<p>UAE’s first Hindu stone temple drew close to 65,000 devotees on its first day, as it was open for the public on Sunday. The BAPS Hindu Mandir, which was recently inaugurated by PM Modi, received around 40,000 visitors in the morning and 25,000 in the evening, for a total of 65,000 at the end of day.<strong> </strong>Union Minister for Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal also paid a visit to the temple on its opening day, and stayed there for almost three hours. </p>
<p>Commending the crowd management, one of the visitors Sumant Rai stated: “Never have I seen such amazing order in the midst of thousands of people. I was worried I would have to wait for hours and not be able to do darshan peacefully, but we had amazing darshan and were extremely satisfied. Hats off to all the BAPS volunteers and mandir staff.”</p>
<p>Appreciating the architecture of the temple, Luis from Mexico stated: “The architecture and intricate details in the stones are amazing. I really appreciate getting to see the cultural heritage of India. People, come join!”</p>
<p>Highlighting the diplomatic importance of the temple, US-based Piyush stated: "The opening of this Mandir is a testament to the UAE’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. It’s a beautiful representation of unity among different communities."</p>
<p>Reflecting on the historic significance of the opening Sunday for the public, Sadhu Bramhaviharidas stated: “We are deeply grateful to the leaders of the UAE, and the local authorities for the new bus services and their all-round support in making this day a reality. I would also like to thank the pilgrims who were so patient and so understanding during their visit. This Mandir will serve as a beacon of spirituality and a symbol of harmony, bringing together people of all backgrounds and beliefs.” </p>
<p>To mark the weekend visits, the UAE government launched a new bus route (203) between Abu Dhabi and the Mandir. PM Modi unveiled the Abu Dhabi-based temple on February 14 in the presence of the UAE’s tolerance and coexistence minister, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan.</p>