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Colours, lights and food blend with tradition and the atmosphere is warm, welcoming several dignitaries including the country’s Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence
On Sunday, the BAPS Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi celebrated the Indian festival of lights known as Diwali, welcoming more than 10,000 visitors. A beautiful colored powder decoration (rangoli) on the floor welcomes devotees to the temple, decorated with colorful lights and flowers.
The festivities began at 11am in the atmosphere of a traditional celebration, welcoming hundreds of dignitaries in attendance, including Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
After lighting a lamp, Sheikh Nahyan wished everyone: “May the light of Diwali fill your home and bless your relationship with joy and laughter as you share this wonderful celebration. When you win for the light And in rejoicing, I share your joy over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
“Diwali is a global celebration that unites people regardless of religion, culture, nationality or caste. In the UAE, Diwali has become an important event to celebrate Indian culture and traditions.
“In the spirit of Diwali, Indians around the world enrich the world – may this Diwali be a special moment of new and rekindled relationships, may this day be a moment of joy and bring you the highest peace , may you and your family be healthy and may this Diwali be an opportunity to enrich and strengthen peace, love, tolerance and human fraternity.”
Sheikh Nahyan walks through the Mandir construction site under the leadership of BAPS Middle East head Pujya Brahmvihari Swami. After seeing the stone structures, carvings and columns, the minister praised the craftsmanship, “This Mandir will be iconic and unique. The craftsmanship is intricate and stunning, and this place will help spread global harmony.”
Other dignitaries include Sunjay Sudhir, India’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. Jose Aguero Avila, Ambassador of the Republic of Paraguay to the UAE.
Well-wishers enjoyed the intricate and decorative display of 1,200 food items known as Annakut (Mountain of Food), as well as a thoughtful display celebrating the 100th anniversary of BAPS spiritual leader – Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
To prepare for the festivities, 400 volunteers of all ages took the time to help create decorations, prepare for Diwali for children, and prepare for Diwali’s most important ritual, “Annakut” (a traditional offering of food to God) Items) set up a stage to celebrate the beginning of the Hindu New Year.
Visitors can witness different, deeply rooted cultural programmes, including devotional songs sung by prominent Indian communities.
Sharing some reflections from his visit, Sharad Parmar said: “My family and I had a wonderful time celebrating and visiting the BAPS temple. As we entered the site, polite volunteers were greeted by the car park us.”
Another visitor from London, Nikita Odedra, was particularly impressed by the decorations inside the marquee after visiting the site for the first time with her family. “I was deeply moved after reading the detailed history of how Mandir and BAPS were organized,” she said.
There are also play areas for children, where they engage in a variety of interactive activities and insightful games.
In keeping with Diwali and Hindu New Years of gratitude and expressions of gratitude, a blood camp was organized in partnership with Abu Dhabi Blood Bank to allow visitors to support the community and those in need.
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