Dubai: A decade-long Indian dream of a Hindu Temple in the Jebel Ali area comes true. The grand Hindu temple, which was inaugurated last night, opened its doors to worshippers on the occasion of Dussehra. The temple is an extension of the Sindhi Guru Darbar Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in the UAE.
The temple a blend of Hindu and Arabic architecture delivers a powerful message of tolerance and harmony. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, inaugurated the temple by lighting a lantern in the temple’s multi-purpose hall on the ground floor. “We are a community-driven temple founded in 2022. The Hindu Temple Dubai is a space informed by tradition, nurtured by faith and crafted for the future,” said the temple statement. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday took to Twitter, to inform about the inauguration.
The temple spread across 70,000 sq feet was announced in 2020 shortly after COVID struck. However, the UAE Govt had handed over the land in 2019. With a capacity of accommodating 1,000 to 1,200 worshippers on a daily basis, ut saw a huge footfall on day one. Housing over 16 deities under one roof, this temple has delicate hand carvings, ornate pillars, brass spires, and a striking lattice screen.
The new Hindu temple will be open from 6:30 am to 8 pm. To visit the temple, people have to book their slot via the QR-code-based appointment booking system on its website. The process of slot booking has been incorporated for crowd management and to ensure social distancing.