India is a country of temples! Temples are an omnipresent aspect of India. Some temples have a historical importance and were built centuries ago and some have been recently added due to some faith or belief that people hold and cherish. Again Hindu mythology has millions of gods and that explains the existence of so many temples in India. Each temple is dedicated to a particular god or deity having its own ritual practices. These rituals are a result of the manifestations or beliefs of the devotees.
Let us take a look…at some of the strange temples in India
THE VISA BABA TEMPLE OF THE CHILKUR BALAJI TEMPLE – HYDERABAD
Want to settle abroad but not sure of getting your VISA? Then it’s time to visit the Chilkur Balaji temple of Lord Venkateshwara who is the chief deity of this temple in Hyderabad and has become very famous as it attracts many worshippers especially students or individuals who are facing Visa issues. In 1980, as a group of U.S. visa-seeking students from Chennai offered their prayers here and their prayers were answered! One surprising fact about this temple is that it does not have a donation box.
THE CHINESE KALI TEMPLE IN TANGRA – KOLKATA
And you thought The Chinese Kali Temple in Tangra Kolkata is famous for its idol of Kali Maa. Well not really, but it is the prasaad that attracts a huge number of devotees to this temple. Can you imagine this temple offers noodles, Chinese fried rice, and vegetables as prasaad? The temple is located in small town of Tangra which has a large Chinese population comprising of Buddhists and Christians. But the coming together of religions makes it a cultural symphony of sorts at this Kali Temple.
THE AMITABH BACHCHAN TEMPLE – KOLKATA
In South India it is not uncommon to build a temple and dedicate it to your favourite film-star!! But this trend soon caught up with North too, and there is a temple for the legendary Indian actor, Amitabh Bachchan in the city of Kolkata. Worshippers/fans come to visit the temple from all across the state to offer their prayers to him.
THE AIRPLANE TEMPLE – JALANDHAR
The Airplane temple or the Aeroplane Gurudwara in the Daoba District is famous in North India. This Sikh temple belongs to the legendary Shree Shahid Baba Nihal Singh. Devotees who wish to travel abroad make a strange offering here. Yes!! They offer aeroplane models!! The shops on the street around the Gurudwara sell plastic planes in different sizes for devotees who wish to make an offering.
THE RAVANA TEMPLE IN RAVANGRAM, VIDISHA DISTRICT – MADHYA PRADESH
As per Hindu mythology, Ravana was the antagonist who opposed Lord Ram who is revered as Purshottam. So although Ravana is the typical villain according to Hindu mythology, but to the people living in the Ravanagram village, Ravana is worshipped as Lord Ravana and there is a temple for him here. There is an age-old relic which is a 10-feet-tall idol of Ravana in a reclining position.
Now I realize why India has been the called the land of Mystical Charm!
