The Middle East’s first traditional Hindu stone temple to be built in Abu Dhabi will feature intricate architecture and delicate carvings that will re-tell ancient stories from Indian scriptures about peace and spirituality.
Arches, pillars and domes interlaced with motifs of peacocks, elephants, trees and flowers will greet visitors.
This follows a universal theme depicting nature in other temples run by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the non-profit organisation entrusted with constructing and managing the temple.
Panels of marble and stone will be handcrafted by artisans in Pindvada, Sikandra and other rural workshops in India’s Rajasthan state and later assembled in Abu Dhabi.
Sadhu Brahmavihari Das, chief spokesman of the sanstha or organisation, said the temple would be open to people of all beliefs and backgrounds, races and religions.
“This traditional temple will be a part of the UAE’s mission of happiness and harmony by helping to foster love, tolerance, understanding and peaceful coexistence,” he said.
A regular visitor to the Middle East, Mr Brahmavihari Das was part of the creative team that developed the sprawling Akshardham monuments that the sanstha is best known for in India’s Gandhinagar and New Delhi, and a smaller temple in Robbinsville, USA.
“It will facilitate the traditional practice of the Hindu faith and serve the over 3.3 million Indians residing in and the millions of international tourists annually visiting the UAE through interfaith dialogue, pluralism and universal human values,” he said.
The temple is expected to be constructed by 2020 in the capital’s Al Rahba area and will be modelled on other shrines built by the organisation, particularly the Akshardham temple in New Delhi.
While the Akshardham structures are expansive with pink sandstone walls encircling the complex, the Abu Dhabi temple will be much smaller in size.
Some designs are distinctive such as a Mayur Dwar or peacock gate, a feature of both the Delhi and Robbinsville temples.
Typically, the interior has carvings of Hindu deities and saints surrounded by ornate pillars with figurines of devotees playing small drums or classical string instruments like the sarod and sitar. Other sections are embellished with gold coloured metal sculptures of sages.
Models of elephants carting heavy logs of wood or picking up garlands of flowers is another characteristic design element with engravings that tell stories of wisdom and devotion.
“There is no machine work involved. Our temples are handcrafted. Each part has a story to tell like the elephant blocks. No matter what religion you are, no matter what your beliefs, you will enjoy peace,” said Alka Patel, a tour guide at the New Delhi temple.
Akshardham means eternal divine abode.
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Read more:
Narendra Modi launches project to build Abu Dhabi's first Hindu stone temple
National Editorial: Landmark Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi is an emblem of tolerance
Hindu stone temple to be built in Abu Dhabi by 2020
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The 1,200 temples in India, the UK, US, Canada, Africa and Australia handled by the organisation are crowd pullers with people coming to pray or simply gaze at ornate sculptures.
The temples also showcase Indian art and heritage with paintings of herbal dye recounting stories from Indian scriptures.
During a state visit to the UAE last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it would be a symbol of amity.
“I believe this temple will not only be unique in terms of architecture and beauty but will also give the message that the world is one family,” said Mr Modi during the temple launch when he thanked the rulers for granting the land and permission to build.
“It will be a holy place that will be a catalyst of humanity and harmony.”
The architecture will attract people of all faith, residents said.
“So many people will come in to Dubai to see the temple. It will promote interfaith dialogue and will show how inclusive the country is,” said Surender Kandhari, founder of the Sikh gurdwara in Dubai.
“By giving us land for the gurudwara and now for the temple, the UAE government has gone out of its way to support different faith.”
Those who have prayed at Swaminarayan temples in other countries are excited about a temple at their doorstep.
“It will give us even more of a feeling of home. Religion is close to people’s heart and this gives us more of a sense of belonging,” said Sonali Patel, a Dubai resident.
Volunteer with the sanstha and yoga teacher, Lina Rathore has been awaiting this for a long time. “We pray at home but for everyone to pray together, it brings a different kind of peace,” she said.
About Abu Dhabi's temple
The inauguration of the Abu Dhabi temple took place on February 11.
A two-hour long shila pujan or foundation stone laying prayer by sadhus, Indian holy men, marked religious sanction for construction to begin on the 55,000 square metre plot of land in Abu Dhabi's Al Rahba area.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces gifted land and permission for the temple.
There are two temples, a gurudwara in Dubai and several churches across the emirates.
The Hindu temple will be the first for Abu Dhabi and the first traditional stone temple in the Middle East.
Plans were announced during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE three years ago.
Abu Dhabi’s first temple will be designed, constructed and managed by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
It is best known for the Akshardham shrines in Gandhinagar and New Delhi.
The 1,200 Swaminarayan shrines worldwide have interrelated features and the Abu Dhabi temple will embody messages of spirituality and peace.
Pillars depict embellished elephants, gates of peacocks and columns of musicians with traditional string instruments.
Carvings portray age-old tales advising people to stay away from greed and temptation.
Sculptures and paintings retell stories from folklore and Indian scriptures on wisdom, humility, leadership and teach how to block out negativity.
The model of the new temple unveiled in Dubai recently showed seven spires for the Emirates.
It also depicted water features and green areas enveloping the temple.
The compound will include a visitors’ centre, prayer halls, exhibitions, learning and play areas for children and thematic gardens.
It is expected to be completed by 2020.
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Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
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THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
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Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
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In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press
Juliot Vinolia’s checklist for adopting alternate-day fasting
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From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
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Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.
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Rating:3/5
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The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
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It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
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