Abu Dhabi, March 9 -- The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Temple in Abu Dhabi said it will remain closed until further notice, as the Iran-Israel conflict has escalated into a major direct war involving the United States.

The closure follows an earlier announcement from March 2, which said that the temple was to open today.

On March 2, the temple said that the priests there continued to pray for the safety of the people.

It said, "As the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi remains temporarily closed to visitors, the Swamis continue to offer special prayers within the sacred sanctums of the Mandir. In these deeply spiritual moments, their devotion carries prayers for peace, protection, and the well-being of all."...