Dubai: A new Hindu temple was officially inaugurated on October 4, a day before Dashera in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The gates of this grand temple were officially opened in the presence of India’s top dignitaries. This Hindu temple is located in the Emirate’s Corridor of Tolerance in the city of Jebel Ali. The temple is spread over an area of 70,000 square feet. More than 200 dignitaries were present at the inauguration ceremony of the temple.
In which UAE Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Indian Ambassador to UAE Sanjay Sudhir, CEO of Social Regulatory and Licensing Agency for Community Development Authority (CDA) Dr. Omar Al Muthanna, Dubai Hindu Temple Trustee Raju Shroff. The special thing about this temple is that there are many religious places including church, gurudwara in its premises.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the temple, Ambassador Sanjay Sudhir said, It is a welcome news for the Indian community that a new Hindu temple is being inaugurated in Dubai today. This will fulfill the religious aspirations of the large population of Hindus living in the UAE. This new temple is adjacent to a Gurdwara, which was opened in 2012.
This Hindu temple in Dubai is the spiritual center of all religions. The temple also houses a knowledge room and a community center for other religious activities along with the installation of idols of 16 deities of Hinduism. According to the temple’s official website, this new Hindu temple will be open for devotees from 6.30 am to 8 pm. 1000 to 1200 people can gather in the temple every day.
Raju Shroff, a leader of the Hindu community and CEO of Regal Group of Companies, who has contributed significantly to the planning, architecture and construction of this Hindu temple, says that despite Covid-19, there is no hindrance in the construction of the temple due to the cooperation of the Dubai government. This Hindu temple is truly an example of Dubai Government cooperation. The first Hindu temple was completed in Dubai in 1958. Since then, we are all grateful to the Dubai Government for the opening of this new temple as well.
Let us tell you that this temple is the second Hindu temple in Dubai. The first Hindu temple was built here in 1958. India’s Ambassador to the UAE said, “We are honored that Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of Tolerance, inaugurated a new Hindu temple in Dubai today. We are also grateful to the Government of Dubai for providing land for the construction of the temple. Let us tell you that in 1958, only 6,000 people of the Indian community lived in Dubai, while today this figure is 33 lakh. These people consider Dubai as their second home.
What is the specialty of the temple?
This new temple in Dubai has idols of 16 deities of Hinduism. The temple trustees say that the design of these idols is inspired by mandalas. Temple architect consultant Subhash Boit has played an important role in the construction of this temple using his 45 years of experience. Around two lakh people visited the temple using the QR code appointment system in the temple.
By the end of this year, there will be a special community center where Hindu events like prayers, marriages, namings will be held. There will be a prayer hall on the first floor of the temple, where 16 Hindu deities will be worshipped. There will also be a separate room to keep Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs. These areas include a 4,000 square feet banquet hall, a multipurpose hall and a knowledge hall, which are on the ground floor. Multiple LCD screens will also be installed in Community Hall and Knowledge Hall.