Abu Dhabi temple to cost Dh400 million

Devotees from Abu Dhabi offer prayers and offerings during the bhoomi pooja ceremony of the first Hindu temple. - KT photo by Ryan Lim

The first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi will cost not less than Dh400 million (699 crore Indian rupees) and should be completed by 2020.
The temple on 55,000 square metres of land will come up near Al Rahba off the Dubai-Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Highway. The Bhoomi Pooja (rituals performed before starting construction) was performed on Sunday in Abu Dhabi by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha - Gujarat-based organisation building and managing the temple.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi oversaw the ceremony while attending a community event from Dubai Opera.
Temple committee head and community leader BR Shetty said the construction work will be meticulously done.
"The temple should match with Abu Dhabi's landscaping. We will not compromise with the quality of the building. This will be an iconic building. It will be largest and the best temple. This is for the future generation to pray and be disciplined in this country. We have not decided the cost of the temple yet but it should be in line with the skyline of Abu Dhabi. I think it will be not less than Dh400 million," Shetty said.
He clarified that the temple will not be an exact replica of Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, also built by BAPS. "No, it is different. The same people are building this. We have shortlisted the design."
Shetty along with BAPS top members met His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Presidential Palace on Saturday night.
"It was never dreamt that one day we will have the temple made in Abu Dhabi. This is because of the benevolence of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince. This is one place for everyone irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Anybody can perform a religious function there without paying a single dirham."
Let's be united
BAPS international convenor Akshardham Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami hoped everyone would work united to realise the temple and noted it was for the 'future generations'. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha chief spokesperson Sadhu Brahmaviharidas appreciated the gesture of the Royal family and said it made them all more responsible.
"This will be not just a temple but it will have a cultural and spiritual complex which will cater to the needs of the community. It will add value to the lives of the people in the UAE.
"We are all working and once the designs are complete, everything will be composite. We are targeting it to be complete by 2020."
BAPS' ritual man has done 700 bhoomi poojas
Mukeshbhai Chaganlal Bhatt, who performs rituals for all BAPS temple across the world, was a busy man on Sunday. It was the ceremony to commence work at the first Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, which will be built and managed by BAPS.
"I have done more than 700 shilas and bhoomi poojas. Now that things have been done work can start as soon as possible," Bhatt said.
There were 13 senior sadhus (priests) overseeing the proceedings on Sunday.
Talking about the rituals, Bhatt said: "It started by 9.30 am. We first put tilak (mark) on forehead of all seniors. There are other rituals of kankadbandhan (for safety), taking pledge to perform our duty with utmost devotion, seeking blessings from four directions - south, east, north and west are some of the few which I do."
On the foundation stone laying ceremony overseen by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Dubai, he added: "It was shila and bhoomi pooja. We have nine shilas (stones) which represent the various powers. The entire temple will be built following the various shilas. It was after all this that we did Bhoomi Pooja and sought blessing for all. This is done to seeking permission from the Earth to start the construction process," Gujarat-based Bhatt said, giving an insight into the long ceremonies which took place in Abu Dhabi.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com 

• Abu Dhabi

Ashwani Kumar

Ashwani Kumar is a versatile journalist who explores every beat in Abu Dhabi with an insatiable curiosity. He loves uncovering stories that are informative and help readers form their own opinions.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com