Last Updated on April 22, 2024, 4:59 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew recently visited the First Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi. The visit to the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi was one of the major stops during the Prime Minister’s trip.
Dr. Drew is the first leader of the Caribbean Community to visit the temple and experience the various aspects of the Hindu culture. He shared his experience of visiting the temple through his social media.
He called the temple a symbol of love, Peace and Harmony. The Prime Minister further noted that as the first CARICOM Leader to visit the temple, he was delighted to learn more about the Hindu Culture.
During his trip, he spent some valuable and enlightening time with the Swamis at the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi. Brahmavihari Swami, who leads international Relations for the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Hindu organisation led the Prime Minister on the temple tour.
The priest informed Dr. Terrance Drew about the temple and introduced him to the deities. The Prime Minister shared some images from the meeting and showed his people some glimpses of the temple’s interior.
The temple houses the marble statues of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami. The former is believed to be the manifestation of Krishna among the followers. The latter is one of the most prominent member (Paramhansa) of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.
The other idols which are present at the temple include, Lord Radha-Krishna, Lord Ram-Sita with Lakshman, the brother of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman, the devotee of Lord Ram.
Dr. Terrance Drew also took the opportunity to appreciate the leadership of Abu Dhabi for presenting the piece of land to the BAPS Hindu Mandir. The United Arab Emirates is a Muslim-majority nation and this gesture of the authorities points to their dedication to foster inclusivity and peace.
The BAPS Hindu Mandir was officially inaugurated in February 2024 and has been one of the biggest symbols of cultural, traditional and cultural inclusivity in Abu Dhabi. The people of St. Kitts and Nevis appreciated Dr. Terrance Drew for taking the trip to the temple.
They appreciated his efforts to promote inclusivity in religions and cultures across the globe.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
