Just as this year's Diwali is very special in Ayodhya, this year's Diwali festival was also very special for Indians living in the United Arab Emirates, thousands of kilometers away from Ayodhya. A grand celebration of Diwali was held in the first Hindu pinnacled temple built in the Islamic country United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Temple was specially decorated on this occasion. The idols of Shiva family, Rama Panchayat, Vyankatesh-Padmavati, Radha-Krishna, Ayyappaswamy and Aksharpurushottam Maharaj under different seven peaks were specially decorated.
On the occasion of Diwali, Chopda Poojan was also organized in the temple. A large number of devotees took advantage of Chopda Pooja and Maha Pooja at the temple. People of Indian origin from other Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates visited Abu Dhabi specially for the festival of Diwali.
After the Chopra Pooja, a special Mahaarti was organized at the ghat in the temple premises. In which thousands of devotees took advantage of Aarti. UAE Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also extended Diwali greetings.
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