Dressed in a pale pink kurta, Modi presided over the consecration ceremony of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple, participated in rituals that were replicated in around 1,200 shrines built by the organisation worldwide, and met workers who helped build the temple in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He also hailed the role played by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed AI Nahyan, recalled the fervour over the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya last month, referred to himself as the biggest pujari (priest) of "Maa Bharati", and said the current period was not only the Amrit Kaal - a reference to the years leading up to the centenary of India's independence for the country but also for its faith and culture.
"The temple is an example of global unity and communal harmony...it reflects the depth of ties between India and the UAE," he said on the second of his two-day trip to the country. "It is a symbol of the shared love between the people of India and the Arab world."
The temple that is spread across 27 acres was built for an estimated ₹700 crore.
Around 1.8 million bricks were used for the temple, which features seven main spires each representing an emirate in the country.
Modi spent a chunk of his speech talking about India-UAE ties, saying that the world saw the relationship as an example of mutual trust and cooperation. He said in recent years, the bilateral ties scaled new heights, but added that India didn't see the relationship only in contemporary circumstances.
"The roots of these relations are thousands of years old, the Arab world played the role of a the bridge for trade between India and Europe in ancient times... In Gujarat, where I come from, the Arab world was a leading business centre for traders. New possibilities are born from the confluence of civilisations, and new streams of art, culture, and literature spout forth," he said, speaking in Hindi.
Denne historien er fra February 15, 2024-utgaven av Hindustan Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 15, 2024-utgaven av Hindustan Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza
The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the end of war
Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right
Gill and Jurel hold out promise by simplifying a challenging chase to help India seal series
Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast
Director Akshay K Agarwal shot a music video, Humare Ram Aaye Hai, with the cast of the 1987 TV show, Ramayanactors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri - in Ayodhya recently.
Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti
Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has been allowed to offer satellite broadband services in India, two officials aware of the development said.
A temple, 169 years in the making
Through decades of design and reworks, hurdles in engineering and construction, HT pieces together how the grandeur of the Ram Temple was reclaimed
'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket
After Andhra bowed out of the Ranji Trophy at the quarter-final stage with a four-run defeat to Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Monday, senior batter Hanuma Vihari launched a scathing attack on the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), saying he will never turn up for the state again.
Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz
A blazing fifty by Shafali Verma (64₹, 43 balls) helped Delhi Capitals make a mockery of a target of 120 and open their account in the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL).
Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way
The India No. 7 was an inspired pick for the world team event and she repaid the faith, beating the Chinese world No.1
'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'
With improvement in broadband penetration, Indian households are increasingly opting for connected or addressable TVs.
India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received
The Indian government, after years of watching from the sidelines of the chips race, now has to evaluate $21 billion of semiconductor proposals and divvy up taxpayer support between foreign chipmakers, local champions or some combination of the two.
