Watch: First images of final design, hand-carved stone pillars of Abu Dhabi Hindu temple released

Abu Dhabi: Scenes from Hindu epics, scriptures and ancient stories from India, as well as motifs popular in the Gulf countries will adorn the majestic stone façade of the first Hindu temple coming up in Abu Dhabi, it has been revealed.

In the latest update on the construction of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, the temple management has released the first images of the final design of the traditional stone temple and the hand-carved stone pillars that have been taking shape in India.

The visuals of the final design of the temple have been released through a video that chronicles the progress of the temple right from the inception of its concept till the pouring of the UAE’s largest single pouring of fly ash concrete for the raft foundation of the temple.

Dubbed a spiritual oasis for global harmony, the temple’s final master plan revealed in the video shows a massive amphitheatre overlooking the shrine. A library, a classroom, a majlis and a community centre have also been featured within the compound in Abu Mureikhah area. Water falls flanking the steps to the entrance of the shrine, and water bodies circling the temple complex can also be seen in the video.

The design of the master plan was completed in early 2020, and optimised engineered during the slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a spokesperson of the temple told Gulf News. “This is the first time the visuals of the final design have been released through the video,” said Ashok Kotecha, BAPS Hindu Mandir spokesperson.

“The work on the historic Mandir is progressing with the support of the community and guidance from the leadership in India and the UAE. While navigating the challenges produced by COVID-19 and adhering to local best practices during the pandemic, stone work has continued in India.”

Ramayana, Mahabharata coming to UAE

Kotecha said key values and tales of universal wisdom, and the authentic ancient art and architecture would be revived through the stone carvings used for the temple. “The stories and carvings include diverse portions of India’s geography and Hindu belief systems. This would include [epics] Mahabharata and Ramayana as well as the Puranas and regional histories. In fact, this Mandir will be uniquely identified by its intricate mandovar [façade] which will share many traditional value tales from throughout India as well as unique designs of the Gulf,” he revealed.

The intricate carvings of the temple range from figurines only a few inches tall to statues of many metres. The towering facade of the ground floor of the temple has also been revealed.

Kotecha said artisans have carved a whopping 25000 cubic feet of stone in different sites in Rajasthan and Gujarat. “It is a substantial portion of the Mandir. The marble is from Italy, and the sandstone is from Rajasthan.”

Stones to be assembled by March

Currently, Swami Brahmavihari Das, the head of the temple and BAPS international spokesperson, is visiting the UAE to oversee the next stage of the foundation on site in preparation for the arrival of the carved stones which will be shipped and assembled in the first quarter of 2021.

Kotecha said DPWorld and the Transworld Group have offered logistical support in bringing those stones to the UAE for the final masterpiece. “We would like to thank DPWorld and the Transworld group for this gesture,” said Kotecha.

The fact that the Mandir is moving forward at such a steady pace is itself a statement of the vision of the leaders of the UAE and India and of the local community’s commitment to making a lasting contribution to the country which has become their home and heart of success and growth, he added.

Last month, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor had met members of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the organisation working on constructing the temple, to review the progress of the construction.