HM King deputises Personal Representative to attend Hindu Temple's 200th anniversary

Manama, Mae. 27 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has deputised HM the King’s Personal Representative, HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to attend the ceremony marking the 200th anniversary of the Hindu Temple in Bahrain. HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, Shura Council Chairman, Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh, Foreign Affairs Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Mohammed Al Khalifa, Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, ambassadors and senior state officials also attended the grand celebration, co-organised by the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence and the “This Is Bahrain” Society. HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad conveyed HM the King’s greetings and appreciation to all the participants in the celebration, as well as HM’s pride in the great role they have played in the kingdom’s progress in various fields. HM the King’s Personal Representative stressed that holding a ceremony to commemorate 200 years since the existence of the temple in the kingdom proves the depth of the deep-rooted Bahraini-Indian relations, noting that the iconic temple is an excellent example of the feature of co-existence among civilisations and religions that has prevailed in the kingdom for centuries. It also reflects Bahrain’s historical dimension in the region as a country of peace, love, tolerance, as well as religious and cultural diversity, he said. HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad said that the warm welcome accorded to him upon arrival, the speeches made in love and praise of Bahrain and the massive attendance of the event by senior religious figures and officials from brotherly and friendly countries, the officials of the temple and the expatriate communities testify to the participants’ great and sincere love for Bahrain –King, government and people, as the land of peace, love and religious and cultural tolerance. HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad asserted that, during HM the King’s prosperous era, the kingdom remains the land of progress, civilisations and cultures and is proud of the love of its expatriate communities, some of whose members came to Bahrain long ago thanks to the Kingdom’s distinguished geographical local, in addition to its citizens’ tolerance and commitment to co-existence. HM the King’s Personal Representative expressed pride in the major role played by the Board of Trustees of the King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence, the members of the “This Is Bahrain” Society and the members of the expatriate communities for their role in promoting the kingdom’s bright image at the international level. HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad toured the Temple, and lauded the keenness of its officials to preserve the building for many years in the heart of Manama. He also lauded the good organisation of the festivity and its noble goals aimed at promoting the values of peace and tolerance within the framework of co-existence. The Hindu Temple was built in 1819, during the era of the late HH Shaikh Salman bin Ahmed Al-Fateh, and was expanded in 1869, during the era of the late HH Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa.