Amid the bustling streets of Old Delhi, the fragrance of incense wafts through the air, as a small crowd gathers outside a modest Hanuman temple. Among the visitors is Aarti Deshmukh, a young software engineer clutching a folder of documents. It’s her third visit to the temple in the past year. Aarti, like many others, has been praying for her H-1B visa to work in the United States after her post-graduate studies. Twice already, her application had been rejected.
My father always believed that divine blessings can guide us through tough times," she says with a hopeful smile. "He told me to visit this temple where many people pray for visa approvals. At first, I wasn’t sure it would help, but when you’ve tried everything, you’re willing to turn to faith.
A few months after performing the temple’s visa rituals—offering a small replica of a passport and chanting Hanuman’s mantras—Aarti’s perseverance paid off. Her visa was approved on the third attempt, and she credits the temple for bringing her peace during an otherwise anxious period.
"I don’t know how it happened, but I felt at ease after visiting. Sometimes, faith gives you the strength to keep going when everything else fails."
If you visit the website of Chamatkarik Hanuman Temple, don’t be surprised to see the "About Us" section defined as follows:
"Do any of your relatives, friends, or acquaintances in India wish to go to Canada, the USA, Australia, England, or any other country? Are they facing difficulties in obtaining a visa? Do they find themselves making countless visits to the visa office without any results?
There is no need to feel disappointed or depressed. There is only one place you must visit: Chamatkarik Shri Hanumanji Na Charan. Many people have benefited after seeking blessings from Lord Hanumanji. In fact, one begins to feel a sense of piety the moment they arrive at that place."
Image Credit: Screenshot from visahanuman.com
In a country known for its deep spirituality, faith often intertwines with modern aspirations in the most remarkable ways. One of the more unique manifestations of this blend is the rising trend of "Visa Temples" in India—places of worship where devotees seek divine intervention for the approval of their visa applications.
These temples have become pilgrimage sites for those harboring dreams of working, studying, or living abroad. At the intersection of devotion and ambition, visa temples offer a fascinating glimpse into how modern desires and age-old beliefs coexist.
The Rise of Visa-Seeking Temples
The rise of visa-seeking temples coincides with India’s increasing participation in the global migration trend. According to the United Nations, over 18 million Indians were living abroad as of 2020, making India the largest source of international migrants. With visa processes becoming more stringent, many aspirants turn to these temples, seeking blessings they believe can help remove obstacles and expedite their visa approvals.
Among these temples, the Chilkur Balaji Temple near Hyderabad stands out as the most famous. Dubbed the "Visa God Temple," it has become a beacon of hope for thousands who flock there annually, believing that divine blessings can ease the often-complex visa process.
"I was losing hope after my visa was rejected twice," recalls Priya Sharma, an IT professional from Bangalore.
"A friend told me about Chilkur Balaji Temple, and I decided to visit. After offering my prayers and following the rituals, I felt a new sense of optimism. A month later, my visa was approved. I truly believe it was the blessings of the temple that made the difference."
The Unique Rituals of Visa Temples
The customs that define visa temples are as captivating as the beliefs behind them. Visitors to temples like Chilkur Balaji engage in distinct rituals that symbolize their aspirations. The most notable practices include offering toy planes and passports to the deity—symbolic gestures that embody the devotees' dreams of international travel.
1. Toy Plane Offering: A Flight of Faith
One of the most popular rituals involves offering toy planes at the temple altar. The plane, a representation of the aspirant’s journey to foreign lands, is placed before the deity as a prayer offering. Many devotees also perform 11 circumambulations around the temple’s sanctum to express their wish, and upon the fulfillment of their prayer, they return to complete 108 circumambulations as a gesture of gratitude.
"I bought a small airplane from a local market and placed it at the feet of Lord Balaji," says Rakesh Singh, a 27-year-old engineer from Delhi. "It felt silly at first, but then I saw hundreds of others doing the same. That day, I realized that faith doesn’t need logic—it needs belief."
2. The Passport Ritual: Seeking Divine Approval
Another powerful symbol used in visa-seeking rituals is the passport. Devotees often bring a copy of their passport or, in some cases, even their actual passport, placing it before the deity. This act represents a direct appeal for divine assistance in their visa approval. By offering their most crucial travel document, devotees demonstrate their trust in the deity’s intervention.
Sunita Mehta, a student seeking admission to a U.S. university, shares her story:
"I visited Chilkur Balaji Temple with a copy of my passport, as I had been waiting anxiously for my student visa approval. After offering it at the altar, I prayed with all my heart. A few weeks later, my visa was approved. It felt like a miracle."
Faith, Superstition, or Both?
The question often arises: are these practices acts of faith, superstition, or a blend of both? For many devotees, it’s not just about securing a visa—it’s about seeking guidance, assurance, and peace in the face of uncertainty.
Believers often recount personal stories of how divine intervention helped them achieve their dreams. These testimonies reinforce the narrative that faith can influence outcomes, leading to an ever-growing community of devotees.
A study by Pew Research indicates that 80% of Indians believe in divine intervention to overcome challenges, illustrating how deeply faith is ingrained in the culture. For visa applicants, temples offer more than just spiritual support; they serve as beacons of hope in navigating a stressful and unpredictable process.
"There is something very reassuring about placing your dreams in the hands of a higher power,"
explains Anil Verma, a businessman from Punjab who visited the Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara near Jalandhar—a temple also renowned for visa-related blessings.
"I know the visa process is long and complicated, but visiting the temple gave me peace and renewed energy to keep pushing forward."
Famous Visa-Seeking Temples in India
While Chilkur Balaji is the most well-known, several other temples across the country have developed a reputation for helping devotees with their visa aspirations.
1. Chilkur Balaji Temple, Hyderabad
Chilkur Balaji Temple, dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, has become a spiritual hub for visa aspirants. Known for its lack of an entrance fee and donation box, the temple focuses solely on faith and community-driven worship. It has been estimated that over 100,000 devotees visit the temple every year, with many testifying to its power in helping secure visa approvals.
2. Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara, Talhan (Punjab)
This Gurudwara near Jalandhar, also known as the "Airplane Temple," is famous for devotees offering toy planes in hopes of securing a visa, particularly to countries like Canada and the U.S.
Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh is believed to be a powerful intermediary who can help remove obstacles from the path of those seeking to go abroad. Every year, hundreds of visitors testify to the Gurudwara’s role in fulfilling their international dreams.
"I prayed here before applying for my Canadian visa, and within weeks, I got my approval," shares Rajdeep Kaur, a nurse. "I return every year with an offering of thanks for Baba Ji’s blessings."
3. Chamatkari Visa Wale Hanuman Mandir, Delhi
This Hanuman temple in South Delhi has become particularly famous for visa applicants. Located in Connaught Place, the temple is frequented by people hoping to travel overseas, especially for work.
The legend says that if you visit the temple with faith, you will be able to overcome the hurdles in your visa process. Many devotees also perform circumambulations here, praying for smooth visa approvals.
4. Chamatkarik Shree Hanumanji Mandir, Ahmedabad
Another temple associated with visa success is the Chamatkarik Shree Hanumanji Mandir in Ahmedabad. Devotees flock here with hopes that Lord Hanuman will bless them with favorable outcomes in their visa applications.
Some carry toy planes and others photocopies of their passports to place before the deity, praying for safe and swift travels.
5. Pracheen Hanuman Mandir, Delhi
Located near Connaught Place, Pracheen Hanuman Mandir has long been a destination for visa aspirants. Devotees believe that offering prayers here will help remove obstacles in the visa application process.
The temple’s historical and spiritual significance adds to the devotees' faith in its power to help them achieve their dreams of going abroad.
6. Sri Lakshmi Visa Ganapathy Temple, Chennai
Dedicated to Lord Ganapathy, the remover of obstacles, this temple has become a beacon for those seeking visa approvals.
Known as the "Visa Ganapathy Temple," it is believed that devotees who offer special prayers to Sri Lakshmi Ganapathy will have their visa-related obstacles removed, making their overseas aspirations a reality.
7. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Chennai
The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Chennai is another hotspot for visa seekers. Sai Baba, known for his compassion, is believed to help ease bureaucratic processes for those wanting to travel abroad.
Many devotees come here with hopes that his blessings will smooth their immigration journeys.
A Personal Leap of Faith
For many, visiting these visa temples is not merely a ritual—it’s an emotional journey. Amid the anxiety and stress of visa applications, these temples provide a refuge of hope. By combining personal effort with a sense of divine support, devotees feel empowered to keep pushing forward despite the uncertainty.
In a survey conducted by The Economic Times, 65% of Indian respondents believed that faith played a critical role in their success, whether in academics, career, or visa approval.
Sometimes, all you need is faith," concludes Vijay Patel, a young professional who successfully moved to the U.K. after visiting Chilkur Balaji. "The visa process is difficult and frustrating. But when I visited the temple, I felt a calmness that gave me the strength to persevere.
Conclusion
Visa temples in India reflect a unique fusion of modern aspirations and ancient beliefs. These spiritual havens serve as places where dreams of international travel meet the power of faith, providing comfort and hope to millions navigating the complex process of visa approvals.
Whether or not the rituals directly influence visa decisions is up for debate, but the psychological and emotional comfort they provide is undeniable.
As global migration continues to rise, the influence of visa temples is likely to grow, offering a reminder that even in a world driven by paperwork and bureaucracy, there is still room for faith.