Abu Dhabi, Feb. 3 -- More than 10,000 devotees visited BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to celebrate its first 'Patotsav', the anniversary of its inauguration. A series of grand celebrations, prayers, and cultural performances were conducted to mark the occasion.

The Patotsav is an auspicious date whereby sacred traditional rituals and ceremonies are invoked to honour and celebrate the anniversary of temple's Pran Pratishtha, the consecration of deities in the central shrine.

The day commenced before dawn as hundreds of devotees and volunteers arrived at 4 am Sunday to prepare for the Mahapuja at the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the region, according to a press release.

In the press release, Jigisha Joshi, a voluntee...