In a poignant gathering on Tuesday evening, worshippers bid a tearful farewell to the 65-year-old Hindu temple in Bur Dubai, marking the end of an era for the iconic Sindhi Guru Darbar temple complex. The complex, which housed both the Bur Dubai Shiv Temple and a gurdwara for Sikh worship, was a cherished spiritual haven for hundreds of thousands of Hindu worshippers and tourists alike.
Emotions ran high as devotees offered their prayers “one last time” before the temple’s closure on Wednesday, with many expressing their deep connections to the sacred space. Chandra Sachdev, a 65-year-old resident of Bur Dubai, shared her heartbreak, having been a devoted worshipper for over four decades.
The relocation comes as a response to safety concerns regarding the old temple complex and its inability to accommodate the growing number of visitors. The new temple in Jebel Ali, which opened its doors on October 22, now offers worshippers an alternative spiritual space.
The Sindhi Guru Darbar temple complex began as a small worship hall in the Old Souk and evolved into a cultural center, attracting hundreds of devotees daily and serving as a major tourist attraction. The labyrinth of narrow alleys surrounding the temple, adorned with shops selling fresh flowers, garlands, and incense sticks, became a cultural tapestry of Dubai.
Despite the relocation, the newly-built hand-carved temple in Abu Dhabi, set to be officially opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to continue serving as a spiritual hub for worshippers from various faiths and nationalities.
For many, the Bur Dubai Hindu temple complex was an integral part of their lives, offering a spiritual foundation. The temple’s closure impacts not only the worshippers but also the 500 to 600 small shops surrounding the old temple area, which sold flowers and other worship items.
The unique coexistence of a Hindu temple and a Gurudwara for the Sikh community at the Bur Dubai complex made it a rare spiritual experience. The Krishna Temple (Shreenathji Haveli) in the same locality, which opened in 1902, will remain open, providing solace to some in the community.
