Residents appreciate UAE’s religious freedom

Dubai: With more than 200 nationalities living in the UAE, religious diversity is widespread.

Along with Muslims and Christians, Hindus living in Dubai said they also feel they are free to practise their religion and celebrate their annual festivities.

Deepak Soni, CEO of Marhaba Jewellers said he feels the UAE has had a long tradition of welcoming Hindu traders for nearly over a century and showed unparalleled generosity in providing land to build the Hindu Temple in Bastakiya as early as 1958.

Today thousands of migrant Hindu workers from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal visit the temple to offer their prayers.

“We now have two sections — the Shiva Temple and Sai Baba Temple and the Radha Krishna Temple all in one complex along with the Gurdwara,” said Soni.

For important Hindi festivals such as Maha Shivratri, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, Dussehra and Diwali, one can see long queues of devout Hindus waiting to offer their prayers. “It is then that one wants to thank the rulers for their generosity in giving all Hindus the freedom to practise their religion,” said Soni.

While not a regular visitor at the temple, Soni said he finds incredible peace and spiritual calm on his occasional visits.

Paresh Shah, an Indian businessman, who follows Jainism explained that his religious sect that evolved out of Hinduism and follows the teachings of their religious master Mahavir Jain, does not require them to visit the temple. “We have the freedom to lease out an auditorium for the annual birthday celebrations of our guru on Mahavir Jayanti day and the eight-day celebration called Paryushan Parva in August,” he said.

Shah among many others in the community feel the beauty of living in the UAE is that it accommodates its expatriates. “Not only does it have the generosity to allow us to practise our religion but we get special ‘Jain’ food in most of the eating places here. Our comfort levels are high and we feel the secret of the harmony and peace of the UAE is this gesture of the rulers that gives every community the freedom to practise its religion,” said Shah.

During festive seasons, glowing Christmas trees are set up in malls and hotels shower guests with chocolate Easter eggs granting expatriates the opportunity to openly celebrate religious occasions.

With more than two dozen Christian churches nationwide, residents spoke about practising religion freely.

Anila Philip, 40 from India is a Dubai resident who was here when the UAE had only one church.

“Back in 1977, there was an orthodox church and all Christians from all denominations used to go there for worship — I used to go with my parents too,” said Philip.

Growing up in the UAE, Philip said she has freely practised her religion and is now passing on traditions and religious practices onto her son who has been raised in Dubai.

“The UAE has given us religious freedom with limits that we are aware of, which is why we make sure we respect the country’s traditions, we don’t disturb our neighbours and we practise our religion in a way that does not bother anyone.”

While publicising religious celebrations in the media is not permitted, she pointed out that announcements for religious studies, weekly mass, and celebrations are made during mass and are posted on the church’s noticeboard and website.

S.J., a Catholic, highlighted that religious tolerance is not only visible in religious practices and occasions, on the contrary, it is also evident in the educational sector.

“As far as I know, there are catholic church-run schools in the UAE, for example St Mary’s Catholic High School, and church-run schools are great examples of religious tolerance,” said S.J. “They accept students from various religious denominations, who are free to practise their faith and the UAE’s tolerant multicultural melting pot is a great example of that.”

Living in the UAE for 24 years with his family, Thomas Samuel, 53, from India said the UAE has been accommodating to other religions and especially the Christian faith. “Religious freedom is a struggle in some countries in the region, but here in the UAE, we are thankful that we can meet for worship and practise our religion,” said Samuel.

‘Outstanding’

Pointing out that there are around two million Christians in the UAE, Samuel who is from the Redeemers church said more than 16 nationalities gather at the church for worship. He said that holidays such as Christmas and Easter are also freely celebrated within the Christian community in the UAE. “We honour what the government is doing for us and we are careful not to break any rules,” said Samuel.

Another Dubai resident, Ann Mathew, 38, who is a part of the Mar Thoma Eastern Orthodox church, said she has lived in other countries in the GCC and commends the freedom of religion in the UAE.

“The UAE has allowed large groups of Christian communities to come together under one roof and each denomination gets their own place of worship — it’s simply outstanding,” said Mathew.

Pointing out the importance of celebrating religious occasions at church, Mathew’s family who are active in religious activities such as singing in the church choir believe in upholding the balance of showing respect to others in the community and being respected.

— Maria Botros is a trainee at Gulf News