Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, the largest in the United Arab Emirates, boosting his points as a global statesman months before he heads to the polls in an upcoming election in India.
The BAPS Hindu Mandir, built on a sprawling 27-acre site in the site in the desert of Abu Dhabi, is the city’s first Hindu stone mandir, pink sandstone columns are used crowned by seven spires representing the number of Sheikhs that ruled the Emirates.
UAE welcomes PM Modi
Modi received a warm welcome by the country’s President, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan with a hug and was given the Guard of Honor in his respect, representing how close the two nations have come both strategically and economically.
But as Islam is the official religion of the Emirates and a minority religion in India, Prime minister Modi’s visit comes as Muslims back home say they feel marginalized and threatened as Modi’s BJP’s Hindu policies have gain momentum in the world’s largest democracy.
Analysts expects this will nor be an issue for PM Modi during his visit, given India’s immense prominence its growing economy and strategic positioning on the global stage. And back in India renowned experts say that Modi’s lead role in the mighty temple’s inauguration could give his party a turbo charge in the upcoming elections coming up in a few months.
“He’s hoisting the flag of Hinduism across the world. It’s like the religion and pride of India going overseas,” Ali said.
“He’s sending a message to the world: India is the protector of the Hindu religion.”
Significance of the temple
The opening of the temple in Abu Dhabi “must be seen as a political operation for Modi and the constituencies abroad and at home”, said Nicolas Blarel, professor of international relations at the institute of political science, Netherlands.
The temple has a rich history as its UAE-based devotees have long advocated for the temple construction, blarel added.
There are about 3.5 million Indian nationals out of 9 million people living in UAE, making it the largest chunk of Indian diaspora in the world.
To win the diasporas support the UAE government in 2015 have allocated the land for the construction of the temple. “This then became a joint venture and a pillar of mutual cooperation as both the Indian and UAE governments entrusted the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha the responsibility to build and administer the mandir,” Blarel said.
After nine years, this important cultural and political project has been materialized and have come to life which framed by the BJP and Modi as further evidence of the global reach of India’s strong religious pride and rich cultural heritage, but also of the cooperation with its huge diaspora.
