Abu Dhabi: The first Hindu temple coming up in Abu Dhabi has launched a website that facilitates contributions to support the temple’s construction.
The website – www.mandir.ae – will allow people across the UAE and the world to follow the progress of this historic project and contribute to its construction, said a press release.
The announcement came from Mandir Limited, a non-profit company registered with the government to construct, develop and manage the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’s temple.
“We are thrilled to launch and announce the new website and strongly feel it will serve as a useful, informative portal for visitors and well-wishers to gain a comprehensive overview of this community project, as well as serve as a medium for them to offer their loving support and donations,” said Ashok Kotecha, spokesman for Mandir Limited.
With permission from the Ministry of Community Development, the company said, the website is also authorised to collect contributions towards the project.
Telr, a UAE-based payment gateway company, has provided secure back-end payment gateway services to allow each donor to be confident of their transactions, it added.
The temple will be constructed on land gifted by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to the Indian community.
The temple with seven towers representing the seven emirates in the UAE will come up on a 14-acre piece of land at Abu Mureikhah in Al Rahba area on the Abu Dhabi-Sweihan-Al Ain Road, close to the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had revealed a model structure of the temple at the Dubai Opera on February 11 when the ground-breaking ceremony of the temple was held in Abu Dhabi.
“Since that time, the project has seen substantial progress. Most recently, from October 2 to October 8, senior sadhus (priests) from BAPS, Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami and Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, spent a week in the UAE with local experts and the lead architectural consultants to finalise the conceptual plans of the project. Through future updates like these, this website will allow the community to stay abreast with the continued progress of the project,” the release added.
Indian businessman B.R. Shetty, who is also the chairman of the board of the company, told Gulf News the estimated cost of the temple project is Dh450m.
“Definitely it [cost] will be not less than Dh450m. We have already started receiving contributions. If there is any shortfall, we all will be covering it. It should match the skyline of Abu Dhabi.”
