Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple has already welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors since its opening, and is anticipates even more visitors for several festivals that will be celebrated this month.
When the Baps Hindu temple formally opened on February 14, people began queuing up almost immediately to enter the structure made from hand-carved stone and marble.
About 65,000 people turned out at the temple on the first Sunday, March 3, that the shrine opened its doors to the public weeks after its inauguration by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Now, 30,000 people on average visit the complex every Sunday with the weekend waiting time often stretching to one-and-a-half hours, temple authorities said.
a Sharjah resident
“It was beyond our expectations, a staggering 65,000 attendees came to the venue," a temple spokesman, told The National. "Yet, what truly captivated us wasn't just the sheer number, but the warmth and love that seemed to radiate from every corner, drawing everyone,” he said.
April festivals
April is a packed month in the Hindu calendar with celebrations around Hindu new year and for the spring festival welcomed with traditional prayers across Indian states.
Hindus are also expected to converge in large numbers to celebrate the Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti festivals – marking the birth of two Indian gods Rama and Hanuman later this month.
Elaborate carvings of both deities are an integral part of the Baps mandir.
The news of the hand-carved works that adorn the temple reached Dina Shah, who waited in queue for more than two hours recently to enter the marble and pink sandstone structure.
“I knew there would be a long wait so I came prepared with umbrellas for the family,” said Ms Shah, a Sharjah resident who plans to visit the temple for all festivals.
“It was amazing to see the detailed work and all the carvings from stories I have heard from the time I was a child.
“I never, ever thought I would see a classic temple like this outside of India.”
Watch: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opens Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi
The patient crowds queued while listening to sacred prayers and chanting from the temple that can be heard on speakers as they wait.
Dozens of tourists also joined the line as buses pulled up with visitors from Nepal and Germany.
“The sculptures are incredible,” said Niels Meyer, an architect from Frankfurt. “I had read about the temple but never expected this sort of scale. This is a place I will come back to. I want to sit and absorb the peace in the evening.
“It’s just beautiful and puts you in a meditative space.”
All are welcome
To manage the weekend crowds, Abu Dhabi's transport authority last month introduced a new bus service, which takes visitors from the city bus station to the temple.
At the weekends, the existing bus route 201 has been replaced by 203 to cope with the Saturday-Sunday traffic to the temple.
Temple officials are bracing for higher numbers while maintaining a festive atmosphere for the festivals.
“To ensure that everyone enjoys a wonderful experience, we have increased the number of volunteers and enlisted the support of the local police,” the spokesman said.
“We collaborate closely with local authorities to manage the influx of visitors effectively. By working together, we ensure that the crowds are managed efficiently and that everyone can safely experience the mandir without overcrowding.
“During the weekdays, there is an efficient flow of visitors, however over the course of time we anticipate the queues to increase as more tourists begin to visit from abroad.”
An interfaith gathering was observed last week at the temple during Ramadan that drew UAE ministers, a vicar, rabbi and representatives from the Sikh community.
The cultural programme included discussions on faith and spirituality followed by the first suhoor at the temple.
The Baps Hindu mandir, located in the Abu Mureikha area, off Sheikh Zayed Road, is open to people of all faiths from 9am to 8pm from Tuesday to Sunday. The temple remains closed on Monday.
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
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Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
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Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
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Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
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The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
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Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
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