The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Abu Dhabi celebrated the festival of lights, Diwali on a large scale. Around 10,000 devotees gathered at the venue to indulge in the festivities. The temple was beautifully decorated with garlands of flowers and lights for the festival. The traditional Hindu mandir of Abu Dhabi has much more to tell about this year’s Diwali celebration.
BAPS Hindu Temple Celebrated Diwali With Over 10,000 Devotees
The Abu Dhabi temple offered Annakut, which means a mountain of food to the god. Diwali also marks the new year according to the Hindu calendar. Hence the ritual of Annakut is an offering to start the new year on a pious note. There were around 1,200 dishes offered and decorated as a display at this temple. The decorations of the temple were a joined effort of all the 400 members including all age groups. The temple committee played Devotional songs as a part of the celebrations at the BAPS Hindu Temple.
With the help of volunteers who organised and ran the entire event under the direction of the Saints, the BAPS Hindu Mandir arranged a fun fair area for kids. Visitors engaged in a variety of active learning and educational games that taught them about the relevance of the festival, moral behaviour, and the significance of community work. Along with Diwali celebrations, the temple also celebrated 100 years of Pujya BAPS spiritual leader Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
Also Read: 5 Temples in UAE To Visit For Diwali Darshan
Sheikh Al Nahyan & Other Dignitaries Visited The Temple During Diwali
Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Co-existence of the UAE marked his presence at the BAPS Hindu Mandir to observe the Diwali celebrations. He lighted the lamp and wished everyone at the temple a Happy Diwali. He spoke a few words regarding the festival and how delighted he was by the celebration in UAE.
Brahmvihari Swami head of BAPS Middle East took Al Nahyan on a stroll around the temple. The minister was left in awe of the intricate interiors and craftsmanship.
Here’s how the celebrations of Diwali took place at BAPS Hindu Mandir which will complete in February 2023.
Cover Image Courtesy: Twitter+Mandir.ae