The consecration of the Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi constructed by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS organization, took place ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration on February 14. The first Hindu stone temple in Abu Dhabi is an exceptional example of how the cultures and histories of the two countries have been combined. On March 1, the public may obtain access for entry. 
Twelve Striking Facts and Characteristics of the Temple ~

1. The temple, which is located near Abu Mureikhah, was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore. After being cut in India, the white Italian marble and the pink Rajasthan sandstone were assembled in the United Arab Emirates.
2. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, donated 13.5 acres on which the temple is situated. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the nation in 2015, he gave the land as a donation.
3. Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam, or BAPS A Hindu sect known as Swaminarayan Sanstha. Recognized for its veneration of Swaminarayan as a manifestation of Lord Krishna, the group led the building effort.
4. Vedic art and architecture served as inspiration for the design. Every one of the temple's seven spires represents a UAE emirate.
5. In 2017, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone. In January 2019, the UAE government allotted an additional 13.5 acres.
6. The temple's interior features include prayer halls, a tourist center, and themed gardens.
7. The base is equipped with about 100 sensors. More sensors are also present at other locations to monitor earthquake activity and other natural disasters.
8. This temple was not constructed with iron or steel, unlike the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. It has assimilated ideas from the Arabian region, the Chinese, the Aztecs, and the Mesopotamians. The temple has seven shrines dedicated to different deities from different parts of India, such as Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva and his family, Lord Jagannath, Lord Krishna, Shri Ashkar-Purushottam Maharaj, Lord Tirupati Balaji, and Lord Ayyappa. Each shrine is adorned with intricately carved carvings that reflect the life and lessons of each deity.
9. To make the inauguration event go more smoothly, a registration site has been established. Transportation is planned out of every emirate. 
10. The temple will also have kid-friendly play facilities, exhibition spaces, and classrooms.
11. The temple contains seven shrines. They are all dedicated to various north, east, south, and west Indian Gods and Goddesses.
12. The rose pink sandstone and the white Italian marble stone have been carved in India and have been assembled in the UAE over the past 3 years. The 402 white marble pillars have been carved by over 2,000 craftsmen from Rajasthan & Gujarat. The design is based on Vedic architecture and sculpture.

Participation of volunteers ~

More than 690,000 hours were volunteered by more than 200 volunteers from the United Arab Emirates to build the mandir.  Their involvement is multifaceted and includes planning, building, logistics, civil work, and mandir upkeep. As such, it has a significant impact on the project's development. The temple's construction has involved people from a variety of backgrounds, including businesswomen, youngsters, designers, and retired expats from the US, UK, India, Africa, and the Gulf. These volunteers see their work as an extension of their spirituality and devotion. It is noteworthy that youngsters participated in this group endeavor as volunteers and helped create stone objects as a harmony emblem.

Harmony between cultures and religions ~

The government formally granted legal status to the Mandir and 17 other places of worship in September 2019 as part of the UAE's effort to encourage cultural diversity, tolerance, and peace.
"Laying the foundation stone of the temple is reflective of the landscape of tolerance and pluralism in the UAE," stated Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development, during the event in April 2019. The late Sheikh Zayed, one of the founding fathers, was always of the opinion that the best path to world peace is for people of different ethnicities and religions to coexist.

In addition, fourteen illustrations of parables from Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Arabian, and other civilizations are included. The UAE's Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, said of the carvings, "The craftsmanship is intricate and amazing, and the place will help spread global harmony."Upon the visit of thirty-one ambassadors in May of 2023, Japanese ambassador Akio Isomata remarked, "I see a philosophy of tolerance in the carvings." Diplomats from 42 nations paid a visit to the shrine in January 2024. According to Jonathan Knight, the UK's deputy ambassador, "so many different faiths coming together to build something that will last for generations"

"The mandir has come not from great negotiations or great presentations, or great appeals. It has come from natural love and natural friendship. One fact that I would like to tell all Indians staying here, is that our forefathers who have created such a great impression of integrity, that things like this are going to happen more and more. it is love beyond belief. All the people and rulers I have met have only good things to say about India and its culture..." said BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir saint Brahmviharidas Swami