Dubai: New Hindu temple to open by Diwali next year
A majestic new Hindu temple with a distinct Arabian look is expected to open its doors for worshippers in Dubai by October next year, during Diwali. The new temple is being constructed adjacent to the Guru Nanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, making the locality a multi-religious corridor in the city. The construction of the temple is underway.
Temple will require an area of 25,000 square feet
The temple is an extension of the Sindhi Guru Darbar Temple, one of the oldest temples in UAE, open since the 1950s. A report in Khaleej Times said, "25,000 square feet temple will be built at an estimated cost of 75 million dirham (Rs. 1,48,86,24,396)."
Construction of the basement is now complete: Raju Shroff
Raju Shroff, an Indian businessman and one of the trustees of the Sindhi Guru Darbar Temple, announced on Sunday that the construction of the temple is underway and the basement is complete. "Piling, shoring, and casting of basements one and two are complete. We are on track to open during Diwali 2022," Shroff said. The temple's foundation-stone-laying ceremony took place in February last year.
The location will have several churches as well
Once complete, there will be several churches, a Sikh Guru Nanak Darbar, and a Hindu temple in the same location. The temple will be home to 11 Hindu deities and the temple's architecture will have a distinct Arabian look. "We want to give back to the local economy and this is our way to repay the UAE leadership for celebrating religious tolerance," Shroff said.
Temple will be a blend of Hindu and Arabic architecture
Worshippers can use the spacious 4,000 sq ft banquet hall for cultural events and religious gatherings. The temple intends to display a blend of contemporary Hindu and Arabic elements. The columns on the facade and interior take inspiration from the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. The main dome is inspired by the Nagara style of Hindu temple architecture found predominantly in North India.
Temple will be east facing and 24 meters tall
The temple is an east-facing structure, designed as per norms of Indian Temple Architecture and Hindu Vastu Shastra. The temple structure includes two basements, a ground floor, and a first floor. The total height of the temple is 24 meters, Gulf News reported.
