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His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj Accorded Traditional Arabic ‘State Guest’ Welcome, Abu Dhabi, UAE

5 Feb 2024

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj was arriving in the UAE as an official ‘State Guest’

A troupe of dancers, drummers and chanters performed the Al-Ayyala, a traditional Arabic dance, to greet Swamishri

Children also eagerly awaited Swamishri's arrival

The performers and swamis eagerly awaited Swamishri's arrival

As Swamishri descended from the plane...

...state officials and senior swamis waited to greet Swamishri

Swamishri was pleased to see His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence for the UAE

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan warmly greeted His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj

Yusuff Ali, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of LuLu Group International, also greeted Swamishri at the airport

Swamishri enthusiastically interacted with the Al-Ayyala performers

The traditional Arabic performance is usually reserved for special occasions and welcoming heads of state

Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami greeted Swamishri with a garland of fresh flowers

Ashok Kotecha, Chairman of BAPS UAE, and Yogesh Mehta, a leading Director of BAPS UAE, greeted Swamishri with flower bouquets

Chirag and Chirayu Rohitbhai Patel, leading members of BAPS UAE, also warmly greeted Swamishri

Dipen Manubhai Patel, a leading member of BAPS UAE, cordially greeted Swamishri

Swamishri responded warmly to the heartfelt welcome

Swamishri made his way through the airport humbly accepting the warm welcome with folded hands

Swamishri listened intently to the Sheikh

His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan said to His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, “Welcome to the UAE. Our nation is blessed with your presence. We are touched by your kindness and we feel your prayers.”

Mahant Swami Maharaj warmly replied, “We are touched by your love and respect. The leaders of the UAE are great, good, and large-hearted.”

Upon his departure from the airport, Swamishri met Yusuff Ali again

The Al-Ayyala performers danced again for Swamishri before he departed the airport

Swamishri with the Al-Ayyala performers and Yusuff Ali

Swamishri warmly responded to children bearing auspicious offerings

At the Mandir site, swamis began the welcome assembly with devotional singing

Sadguru Pujya Viveksagardas Swami narrated the history of BAPS in UAE as devotees and well-wishers waited for Swamishri to arrive from the airport

Swamishri received a state escort from the airport to the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi

Swamishri entered the Mandir campus around 5.20pm GST

Hundreds of young and old devotees had been eagerly waiting to welcome Swamishri to the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi

Swamishri gave darshan to the hundreds of devotees who had been waiting patiently at the Mandir

Devotees from all over the world had convened in Abu Dhabi for the inauguration of the new mandir and for Swamishri's darshan

Children had created warm welcome messages for Swamishri

Devotees enthusiastically hailed Swamishri's arrival

Devotees of all ages welcomed Swamishri to the BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi

Devotees greeted Swamishri with joyful reverence

Some devotees greeted Swamishri with tearful reverence

Devotees greeted Swamishri with folded hands

As Swamishri passed the flanks of devotees, children reverently offered flower petals to Thakorji and Swamishri

Children welcomed Swamishri with flags and messages

Devotees hailed Swamishri's arrival with enthusiastic cheers of joy

Children greeted Swamishri with handwritten messages of welcome

Swamishri humbly accepted the devotees' reverence with folded hands

Swamishri interacted with the devotees

Devotees of all ages welcomed Swamishri

Swamishri marvelled at the rear elevation of the Mandir

Swamishri's path was flanked with messages of 'Welcome' written in Sanskrit, Arabic, English and Gujarati

Swamishri passed swamis eagerly awaiting his darshan

Swamis rejoiced in Swamishri's darshan as he passed

A short assembly took place to formally welcome Swamishri to BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi

A resident swami informed Swamishri of the many devotees who had offered devotional austerities ahead of his arrival

Senior swamis presided over the welcome assembly

Swamishri had arrived in Abu Dhabi to inaugurate the BAPS Hindu Mandir, the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East

As Swamishri made his way to Sarvasva, he again met leading devotees of the UAE

Swamishri blessed a swami who has been involved in the construction of the Mandir and campus buildings since their inception

Swamishri admired a photo of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the Sharjah desert where he first envisioned the Mandir in 1997