{"id":193659,"date":"2016-02-26T14:59:57","date_gmt":"2016-02-26T14:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=193659"},"modified":"2016-02-26T14:59:57","modified_gmt":"2016-02-26T14:59:57","slug":"pilgrims-flock-to-indian-temple-said-to-grant-u-s-visas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/02\/pilgrims-flock-to-indian-temple-said-to-grant-u-s-visas\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilgrims flock to Indian temple said to grant U.S. visas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Donald Trump, look away now — devotees are flocking to a temple in southern India where a Hindu god is said to help grant U.S. and other visas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

About 500 years old, the Chilkur Balaji temple near Hyderabad was built as a shrine to Lord Balaji, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu.<\/p>\n

Typically, worshippers perform a wish-making ceremony that includes making 11 laps around the inner temple. Sometimes they proffer their passports and make offerings of fresh coconuts.<\/p>\n

If the wish comes true, they must return and make a further 108 laps.<\/p>\n

In recent years it’s gained a reputation for helping smooth the red tape for Indians seeking overseas visas — so much so that it’s now known as the “visa temple.”<\/p>\n

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Student dreams<\/span> \u2013 Several decades ago it gained a reputation among students wishing to travel to the United States who claimed that praying at the temple increased their chances in visa lotteries.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The trend began several decades ago, mostly among students heading to the United States. They would make the rounds and seemingly get luckier with visa lotteries.<\/p>\n

“My own sister is in Belgium, in Brussels right now, so yes, it does work,” pilgrim Manjunath Singh tells CNN while performing his wish-making laps at the temple.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Over the years the temple’s reputation has grown by word of mouth and now attracts crowds who line up to make the rounds.<\/p>\n

Its popularity is helped by pamphlets handed out at the temple that contain testimonies of success.<\/p>\n

“Our lord is answering the prayers,” says one priest, S. Rangarajan.<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

Source: CNN<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Donald Trump, look away now — devotees are flocking to a temple in southern India where a Hindu god is said to help grant U.S. and other visas. About 500 years old, the Chilkur Balaji temple near Hyderabad was built as a shrine to Lord Balaji, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu. Typically, worshippers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[117],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nPilgrims flock to Indian temple said to grant U.S. visas - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. 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