![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BNBRG5RDWVDBVIWZWGQFXPTQQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=961e812c6bfa7b6c649b0edbdf34c95a4b3895dc098e40cb6e849445638d33b5&width=400&height=225)
April is a packed month in the Hindu calendar with celebrations centred around Hindu new year and the spring season
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QTF623LKYFE4ZCOATFYY5PIW34.jpg?smart=true&auth=afd7f78ae4df418cead3bd66cfd86d748d8aaa654a777f4bb806cd3b7212a1e6&width=400&height=225)
About 65,000 people turned out at the BAPS Hindu Mandir temple in Abu Dhabi on March 3, the first Sunday it was open. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3L3TI6DDVB2FL2DM3XZIY32IY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a393e04de4a616eef2564ef4986d1ac5a2706cefa2021986fafdd4ab98a177cd&width=400&height=225)
The temple was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7YSRQTJZLVCHXBTKSVDN4QQPCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab812622ac4532f716b25aa16cdb4aa3e2b5b70710d1b07dba46fe8034b4079a&width=400&height=225)
Now, 30,000 people on average visit the complex every Sunday with weekend waiting times of up to 90 minutes
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVQLX5AZBNHIBPHHSXDCKUBBQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e0086ac139ac2b9150c69b4f8e07de768f68d6ec98dd75bf3925cd9a8db4306f&width=400&height=225)
When the Baps Hindu temple formally opened on February 14, people began queuing almost immediately
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2MISZM3V3JG5NESNJ3TYXMHM7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=5f1541e099d37aee2263fa0ee261048e3565860cbe3d822ac2c9c3972f1f2dd2&width=400&height=225)
Hindus also expected to converge in large numbers to celebrate the Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti festivals
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ENAXP5L2MBACLKOBTT5G3K7STU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac8c415631ffb614643c5c184885d01c9d914096bcf0e8f3c7ba95611c6c4bd2&width=400&height=225)
Elaborate carvings of deities are an integral part of the temple
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4RNA3I5PARAW5GCMA6GZEH6MS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b441807b07e97c70ac650a9a85512ea4264afb0f03df041de3ee1938b6f48f81&width=400&height=225)
Temple officials are bracing for high numbers of visitors while maintaining a festive atmosphere
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UKN6OP2CGNHAHBQWT3YII7ROQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a5e55e49f9643ece0d2ed24aa802536dbb2f35893980b37d6c060dfd3558afe&width=400&height=225)
The Baps Hindu Mandir, in the Abu Mureikha area off Sheikh Zayed Road, is open to people of all faiths
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WGV7WPRFEVFHTMGGXUDI7DIUKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9eba526cec23eda81f8dacd39efaaec7b343e5362dde23901bbf2773d229e722&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple is gearing up to welcome tens of thousands of people for several festivals this month
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BNBRG5RDWVDBVIWZWGQFXPTQQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=961e812c6bfa7b6c649b0edbdf34c95a4b3895dc098e40cb6e849445638d33b5&width=400&height=225)
April is a packed month in the Hindu calendar with celebrations centred around Hindu new year and the spring season
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QTF623LKYFE4ZCOATFYY5PIW34.jpg?smart=true&auth=afd7f78ae4df418cead3bd66cfd86d748d8aaa654a777f4bb806cd3b7212a1e6&width=400&height=225)
About 65,000 people turned out at the BAPS Hindu Mandir temple in Abu Dhabi on March 3, the first Sunday it was open. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3L3TI6DDVB2FL2DM3XZIY32IY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a393e04de4a616eef2564ef4986d1ac5a2706cefa2021986fafdd4ab98a177cd&width=400&height=225)
The temple was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7YSRQTJZLVCHXBTKSVDN4QQPCU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab812622ac4532f716b25aa16cdb4aa3e2b5b70710d1b07dba46fe8034b4079a&width=400&height=225)
Now, 30,000 people on average visit the complex every Sunday with weekend waiting times of up to 90 minutes
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GVQLX5AZBNHIBPHHSXDCKUBBQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=e0086ac139ac2b9150c69b4f8e07de768f68d6ec98dd75bf3925cd9a8db4306f&width=400&height=225)
When the Baps Hindu temple formally opened on February 14, people began queuing almost immediately
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2MISZM3V3JG5NESNJ3TYXMHM7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=5f1541e099d37aee2263fa0ee261048e3565860cbe3d822ac2c9c3972f1f2dd2&width=400&height=225)
Hindus also expected to converge in large numbers to celebrate the Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti festivals
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ENAXP5L2MBACLKOBTT5G3K7STU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ac8c415631ffb614643c5c184885d01c9d914096bcf0e8f3c7ba95611c6c4bd2&width=400&height=225)
Elaborate carvings of deities are an integral part of the temple
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4RNA3I5PARAW5GCMA6GZEH6MS4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b441807b07e97c70ac650a9a85512ea4264afb0f03df041de3ee1938b6f48f81&width=400&height=225)
Temple officials are bracing for high numbers of visitors while maintaining a festive atmosphere
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UKN6OP2CGNHAHBQWT3YII7ROQM.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a5e55e49f9643ece0d2ed24aa802536dbb2f35893980b37d6c060dfd3558afe&width=400&height=225)
The Baps Hindu Mandir, in the Abu Mureikha area off Sheikh Zayed Road, is open to people of all faiths
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WGV7WPRFEVFHTMGGXUDI7DIUKU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9eba526cec23eda81f8dacd39efaaec7b343e5362dde23901bbf2773d229e722&width=400&height=225)
Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple is gearing up to welcome tens of thousands of people for several festivals this month
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BNBRG5RDWVDBVIWZWGQFXPTQQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=961e812c6bfa7b6c649b0edbdf34c95a4b3895dc098e40cb6e849445638d33b5&width=400&height=225)
April is a packed month in the Hindu calendar with celebrations centred around Hindu new year and the spring season
Baps Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors since opening
On average 30,000 people have visited each Sunday since its opening last month
![Ramola Talwar Badam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5ef0cfa3-a931-4bee-a429-a6e926cfab98.png?smart=true&auth=8bd0c965d9bb14cf66195518e8cc461c939674357be28fde76d5e3597d39b95d&width=70&height=70)
Ramola Talwar Badam
08 April, 2024
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