Hindu Temple in Dubai, with 16 Deities and Distinct Architecture, to Open for Public on Dussehra
Ahead of the Dussehra festival, dignitaries from India and the United Arab Emirates officially opened the Hindu temple in Dubai in a grand ceremony on Tuesday. The temple will be made open to the public on Wednesday on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, according to reports.
The grand opening on October 4 was scheduled to be attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, minister of tolerance and coexistence and the Indian envoy to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir.
The temple was built in three years and clearances from the officials in the Community Development Authority, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police and the Dubai Land Department were obtained even when the pandemic was at its peak. The land for the temple was given by the UAE government in 2019.
“In 2019 the UAE government gave us new land, and allowed us to build another temple in the Jebel Ali area. The temple was built in Dubai in three years. We have built such a temple where every Hindu can practice their religion, it also has the idols of 16 deities and the Guru Darbar,” Raju Shroff, trustee of the Hindu temple, said while speaking to News18 Hindi. He is the chairman of the Regal Group, which is one of the oldest businesses in the country.
He said: “The idols of 16 deities were kept so that all the Hindus can go to the same temple and pray whether they are from north India or south India.”
Shroff told News18 Hindi that devotees can book their visit via a QR code. The website for the temple also allows devotees to book visits, events and darshan.
He also talked about the history of temples in Dubai and said that there were only two temples in Dubai, the first of which was built in 1958. The newly inaugurated Hindu temple will be the second temple.
The new temple will be open for devotees via bookings only till Diwali. After Diwali festivities, the temple will be opened to all with aarti ceremony held daily.
“It is a matter of great honor for us that the minister of tolerance will be inaugurating the temple,” Indian envoy to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir said while speaking to News18 Hindi. Sudhir said the temple symbolizes the respect the UAE government has for all religions.
The temple which is situated in the Jebel Ali area also houses several churches and a gurudwara.
“The government provided land for this temple and other temples. It is the government of UAE’s endeavour that all Indian who live here should feel at home while they live here,” Sudhir added.
Sudhir also spoke about the BAPS Hindu temple and said it will be inaugurated in 2024.
(with inputs from Shalinder Wangu)
