The majestic stone facade of the first Hindu temple under construction in Abu Dhabi will be adorned with scenes from Hindu epics, scriptures and ancient stories from India, as well as motifs popular in the Gulf countries, the local media reported Tuesday.
The temple management of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi has released the first images of the final design of the traditional stone temple and the hand-carved stone pillars that have been taking shape in India, the Gulf News reported.
The visuals of the final design of the temple have been released through a video that chronicles the process of construction of the temple right from the inception of its concept till the pouring of the UAE’s largest single pouring of fly ash concrete for the raft foundation of the temple.
The foundation stone of the temple was laid in April last year and work started in December.
Dubbed a spiritual oasis for global harmony, the temple’s final master plan revealed in the video shows a massive amphitheatre
A library, a classroom, a majlis and a community center also feature within the compound in Abu Mureikhah area. Waterfalls flanking the steps to the entrance of the shrine, and water bodies circling the temple complex was seen in the video.
The design of the master plan was completed in early 2020, and optimized during the slowdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, a spokesperson of the temple told the Gulf News.
“This is the first time the visuals of the final design have been released through the video,” said Ashok Kotecha, BAPS Hindu Mandir spokesperson.
“The work on the historic temple is progressing with the support of the community and guidance from leadership in India and the UAE. While navigating the challenges posed by COVID-19 and adhering to local practices during the pandemic, stone work has continued in India,” Kotecha said.
Ashok Kotecha said key values and tales of universal wisdom, and the authentic ancient art and architecture will be revived through the stone carvings used for the temple.
