• Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak embraces Mahant Swami Maharaj. Courtesy: All Photos BAPS
    Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak embraces Mahant Swami Maharaj. Courtesy: All Photos BAPS
  • Senior Hindu priest Brahmavihari Swami arrives at Dubai World Central. Courtesy: BAPS
    Senior Hindu priest Brahmavihari Swami arrives at Dubai World Central. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Sheikh Nahyan leads Mahant Swami Maharaj to the airport terminal. Courtesy: BAPS
    Sheikh Nahyan leads Mahant Swami Maharaj to the airport terminal. Courtesy: BAPS
  • The priests will lead a ceremony on Saturday that will see the first stone laid on Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple. Courtesy: BAPS
    The priests will lead a ceremony on Saturday that will see the first stone laid on Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Children welcome the leaders at Dubai World Central on Thursday. Courtesy: BAPS
    Children welcome the leaders at Dubai World Central on Thursday. Courtesy: BAPS
  • The temple will be the first traditionally-built place of Hindu worship. At present there are only two small shrines in Dubai's old city. Courtesy: BAPS
    The temple will be the first traditionally-built place of Hindu worship. At present there are only two small shrines in Dubai's old city. Courtesy: BAPS
  • BR Shetty and other UAE-based Indian businessmen welcome the priests on Thursday. Courtesy: BAPS
    BR Shetty and other UAE-based Indian businessmen welcome the priests on Thursday. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Mahant Swami Maharaj speaks with other sadhus or holy men. Courtesy: BAPS
    Mahant Swami Maharaj speaks with other sadhus or holy men. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Mahant Swami Maharaj blesses Chiragbhai Patel. Courtesy: BAPS
    Mahant Swami Maharaj blesses Chiragbhai Patel. Courtesy: BAPS
  • The faithful attend an assembly in Dubai. Courtesy: BAPS
    The faithful attend an assembly in Dubai. Courtesy: BAPS
  • A sadhu or holy man addresses the assembly. Courtesy: BAPS
    A sadhu or holy man addresses the assembly. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Mahant Swami Maharaj performs a rituals at the residence of the Patel family in Dubai. Courtesy: BAPS
    Mahant Swami Maharaj performs a rituals at the residence of the Patel family in Dubai. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Mahant Swami Maharaj is head of the organisation that will build the shrine in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: BAPS
    Mahant Swami Maharaj is head of the organisation that will build the shrine in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Mahant Swami Maharaj is led to the Patel family residence. Courtesy: BAPS
    Mahant Swami Maharaj is led to the Patel family residence. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Hundreds if not thousands of worshippers are expected to attend the stone laying ceremony outside Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning. Courtesy: BAPS
    Hundreds if not thousands of worshippers are expected to attend the stone laying ceremony outside Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Devotees during the assembly. Courtesy: BAPS
    Devotees during the assembly. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Atmaswarup Swami addresses the assembly. Courtesy: BAPS
    Atmaswarup Swami addresses the assembly. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Swamishri greets devotees with 'Jai Swaminarayan'. Courtesy: BAPS
    Swamishri greets devotees with 'Jai Swaminarayan'. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Swamishri arrives at Jumeirah Park assembly
    Swamishri arrives at Jumeirah Park assembly
  • Devotees during the assembly
    Devotees during the assembly
  • Devotees during the assembly
    Devotees during the assembly
  • Swamishri during the assembly
    Swamishri during the assembly
  • Welcome displays prepared by devotees
    Welcome displays prepared by devotees
  • Brahmavihari Swami welcomes Swamishri with a garland
    Brahmavihari Swami welcomes Swamishri with a garland
  • Swamishri observes welcome displays. courtesy: BAPS
    Swamishri observes welcome displays. courtesy: BAPS
  • Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami welcomes Swamishri with a garland. Courtesy: BAPS
    Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami welcomes Swamishri with a garland. Courtesy: BAPS
  • Children welcome Swamishri with flower petals. courtesy: BAPS
    Children welcome Swamishri with flower petals. courtesy: BAPS
  • Devotees during the assembly
    Devotees during the assembly
  • Swamishri and senior sadhus on stage
    Swamishri and senior sadhus on stage

UAE

Hindu leaders arrive in UAE ahead of Abu Dhabi temple ceremony

Mahant Swami Maharaj was embraced by Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak

Rory Reynolds
Rory Reynolds
UAE

April 19, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

Senior Hindu priests were welcomed by the Emirati minister of tolerance and hundreds of faithful ahead of a ceremony to lay the first stone in Abu Dhabi's first Hindu temple this weekend.

Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj was embraced by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, as he landed at Dubai World Central airport.

He was met by billionaire businessman BR Shetty and prominent figures from India's large resident community.

Mahant Swami Maharaj is the president of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a religious and social organisation that runs thousands of Hindu temples in India and around the world.

His organisation will build the shrine on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.

It will also lead thousands in prayer at the site on Saturday morning.

Mahant Swami Maharaj and senior sadhus or holy men met hundreds of Hindus during a ceremony in Jumeirah Park on Thursday.

He also attended the home of the Patels, a prominent business family in Dubai.

UAE