Sushok Susho had just struck ‘108’ on the small standing leafy sheet inside the Balaji Chilkur Temple – 20 km from the financial district with Hyderabad skyscrapers. His radiant face, bright polyester shirt and bright red Bermellón Tilak running to the hair line meant that the “visa god” had smiled on him. Ashok got his stamped passport with H-1B a day before and was in the temple to show his gratitude. He leaves for his new technological work in New Jersey in April.
There were many Ashoks in the Sea of People who sang ‘Govinda, Govinda’ while walking around the deity in the temple, less than fifteen days after Donald Trump assumed the position of 47th President of the United States. Since he assumed the position, Trump has threatened to send “millions and millions of criminal foreigners”, send troops to the southern border and even ordered the revocation of citizenship status for the children of the headlines of temporary visas. The ads have sent a chill for the backbone of the immigrant community, both within the United States and among the anxious to go there.
The Indians who dream of a new life in the United States now cling to faith with the hope of a miracle, be it the Chilkur Balaji temple near Hyderabad, the Chamatkari Hanuman temple in Ahmedabad or the Shree Siddhi Peeth Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir in Delhi. “Eleven of us had requested last year,” says Ashok, after completing his 108a Pradakshina (Circunvalación) of the temple dedicated to a Vishnu avatar. “I am the only one who obtained the visa. It is only by Lord Balaji,” adds the IT executive. He had prayed in the temple after presenting his visa documents in June 2024.
The Chamatkari Hanuman temple of Ahmedabad, also called ‘Visa Hanuman’, has fans over the weekend, with only two prayers on his lips. Or it is “Lord, please give me a visa” or it is “Lord, thanks for the visa”. The 300 -year -old temple has earned a “friendly with the visa” reputation, attracting devotees from J & K and Meghalaya.
Pujari Vijay Bhatt says that a person is first asked to get a visa to place his passport against Lord Hanuman and then repeat the Hanuman Chalisa after the bid. The applicant is also asked to visit any Hanuman temple once a week and repeat the Chalisa Hanuman. “This is ‘Shraddha’. He has ensured in an hour to perform the ritual, even after three or four negations of visa. One of those resident of Ahmedabad, whose US visa has been rejected once, knew the friends that praying in the Chamatkari Hanuman temple will do wonders.
Below, a dusty lane full of hardware store is Shree Siddhi Peeth Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir in Delhi’s Neb Sarai. Pandit Narayan Mishra, who has been officiating in the mandate for the past five years, says that people renounce meat, alcohol, onion and garlic for 41 days in her search for the elusive visa seal. “They write their handkamna (desire) in a piece of paper. We take the piece of paper and make the idol read it” and sing the mantras. Then it is placed in a box next to the deity, “says Mishra.
But what makes people come from the whole country to the temple? “Maybe because Hanuman is considered the first God who has traveled out of the country to Lanka without any paperwork,” he adds with a smile. Folklore or a humor attempt, people in the area attest to the “magical powers” of the sanctuary. “People come in a very disturbed mental state. This is their last resort, and we generally discover that their wishes come true. Last week, an applicant who obtained his US visa in just two weeks reached the temple for a bid God, “Share Mishra.
Although Andhra’s software engineer, Chandana C, confesses to be dejected after Trump’s success in the elections, now hopes that her 25 visits to the Hyderabad temple in the last 25 months are not in vain. “I have been coming here every month since I requested the visa through a local consultancy. I know that things are not brilliant at this time, but I have faith, I will eventually get it,” says the 26 -year -old player desperate for Date Account from his American dream, like all his other relatives.
Not only for them, some even go through ritual movements for their beloved relatives. Kaushik R, in his 56A Pradakshina, says he is there to pray for his older brother who lives in North Carolina. “I am praying for his name to be selected in the lottery process, and he gets his H-1B. If everything goes well, I will also join the University of Cincinnati for an EM program at the end of this year,” says the Freshly received engineering graduated: setting their hopes in his talent and Lord Balaji in the same extent. “But I will pray for me later. This is for my brother,” adds Kaushik, before returning to his place in the tail. Just behind him is Ravindra R, who got the work of his dreams in Texas. There is only one step for him to clarify now: Visa’s interview. “When I go, I know that I will have the blessings of Lord Balaji with me. Nothing can stop,” says the professional of you.
With additional reports from Meghdoot Sharon in Ahmedabad
(The names of the applicants changed to request)
