Dubai: The city’s Indian places of worship are all illuminated and fully prepared to welcome an unprecedented number of devotees this Diwali. With celebrations peaking on Sunday and Monday, comprehensive security and crowd management arrangements are in place to ensure a smooth and safe festive experience.

The Hindu Temple Dubai and Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Jebel Ali’s Worship Village—located alongside Christian churches—have been beautifully decorated for the Festival of Lights.

Crowd Management and Security Enhancements

With Diwali falling on Monday, October 20, and the extended weekend allowing more time for celebrations, both venues have coordinated closely with Dubai Police and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to handle the expected surge in visitors.

According to N. Mohan, General Manager of the Hindu Temple Dubai, “On Saturday, we saw over 10,000 visitors. Today, we expect between 18,000 and 20,000 devotees, and on Monday, we could see more than 25,000.”

To manage the flow of visitors, the temple has set up separate queues — bachelors will enter from the basement area, while families will use the main entrance. “We’ve conducted several meetings to ensure proper security and smooth crowd flow,” Mohan said.

The RTA has increased the frequency of feeder buses from Energy and Ibn Battuta Metro stations to ease transport for worshippers. The temple will operate from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with possible extensions depending on the crowd. Indoor community halls will serve as waiting areas to avoid congestion outside.

Festive Activities and Workshops

The temple’s Diwali celebrations include rangoli displays, prayer sessions, and traditional rituals. The festivities will conclude on October 22 with the Annakut offering—featuring around 70 varieties of sweets and dishes served as prasad.

On Saturday, October 18, the temple hosted a Diwali-themed children’s workshop, which drew over 200 registrations. Designed for ages 8 to 15, the workshop taught kids rangoli art and traditional craft-making. “Families were eager for their children to connect with cultural traditions. The response was truly overwhelming,” Mohan shared.

Langar and Devotional Activities at Guru Nanak Darbar

At Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, which is also adorned with festive lights, the management expects around 15,000 visitors on Sunday and up to 25,000 devotees on Diwali day, said Surender Singh Kandhari, the Gurdwara chairman.

To accommodate the crowds, the Gurdwara has expanded its langar (community kitchen) operations to serve meals continuously throughout the day, instead of the usual three sessions. Preparations include 1,000 kg of wheat flour, 800 kg of rice, 600 kg of lentils, and 200 kg each of kheer (rice pudding), halwa, and other sweet offerings.

“By God’s grace, we’ve never faced a food shortage,” Kandhari said. “We always prepare in advance, knowing many more will come to celebrate. Any leftover food is distributed to the labour community to ensure nothing goes to waste.”

Volunteers and Security Reinforcement

Both the temple and gurdwara have significantly increased their volunteer and security teams. With years of experience managing large gatherings, organizers are prioritizing safety and smooth operations.

“We’re always careful and vigilant,” said Kandhari. “We don’t want anything to go wrong during such a joyous occasion.”

The Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara will maintain its regular hours from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., while the Hindu Temple Dubai may extend its timings based on visitor turnout.

As Dubai’s Indian community unites to celebrate Diwali, the city’s temples stand as symbols of devotion, diversity, and the spirit of togetherness that defines this festival of lights.