Star-Studded Event Marks Grand Opening of BAPS Temple in Abu Dhabi

In a star-studded affair, the inauguration of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Akshay Kumar, accompanied by actor Vivek Oberoi, singer Shankar Mahadevan, and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, graced the event on Wednesday. Sharing his excitement, Akshay Kumar took to Instagram on Thursday to express his joy at witnessing the grand opening of the Abu Dhabi temple, following his attendance at the city’s first Hindu temple inauguration on Basant Panchmi.

In an Instagram post, Akshay Kumar captioned, “Blessed to be a part of the inauguration of the BAPS Swaminarayan temple at Abu Dhabi. What a historic moment!!” However, an Instagram user humorously commented on the post, pointing out Akshay’s obscured visibility due to the mirror reflection in the photo he shared, where he was dressed in a white ethnic outfit.

The inauguration saw the presence of Madhur Bhandarkar, Shankar Mahadevan, and Vivek Oberoi. Shankar Mahadevan described the occasion as an “epic event,” expressing his awe at witnessing the realization of a dream with the establishment of the beautiful temple in Abu Dhabi. He commended the UAE government for its support, stating, “It is such a beautiful temple, and it’s really great of the UAE government also to join hands with our culture. We have such a historical happening today.”

During the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the addition of another cultural landmark to the UAE’s identity, alongside its renowned architectural marvels like the Burj Khalifa and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. He expressed confidence in the temple attracting a large number of devotees in the future.