Ashok Sundar had just marked ‘108’ on the little chequered sheet located inside the Chilkur Balaji temple, 20km away from the towering skyscrapers of Hyderabad’s Financial District. His radiant smile, shiny polyester shirt, and bright red vermilion tilak reaching his hairline signified that the “visa god” had favored him. Ashok received his H-1B visa stamp just a day before and was at the temple to express his gratitude. He is set to begin his new tech position in New Jersey this April.
There were numerous Ashoks amidst the throng of devotees chanting ‘Govinda, Govinda’ as they circled the deity at the temple, less than two weeks following Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. Since his election, Trump has threatened to deport “millions and millions of criminal aliens,” deployed troops to the southern border, and even initiated actions to revoke citizenship from children of temporary visa holders. These pronouncements have created anxiety within the immigrant community, both in the US and among hopefuls eager to relocate there.
Indians envisioning a new life in the US are now placing their hopes in faith, seeking miracles at various temples like the Chilkur Balaji near Hyderabad, the Chamatkari Hanuman temple in Ahmedabad, or the Shree Siddhi Peeth Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir in Delhi. “Eleven of us had applied last year,” Ashok states after completing his 108th pradakshina (circumambulation) of the temple dedicated to an avatar of Vishnu. “I am the only one granted the visa; it is solely because of Lord Balaji,” adds the IT professional. He had prayed at the temple following the submission of his visa application in June 2024.
The Chamatkari Hanuman temple in Ahmedabad, colloquially known as ‘Visa Hanuman’, experiences increasing crowds on weekends, with devotees carrying just two prayers in their hearts: “Lord, please grant me a visa” or “Lord, thank you for the visa.” This 300-year-old temple has garnered a “visa-friendly” reputation, attracting worshippers from places as distant as Jammu and Kashmir to Meghalaya.
Priest Vijay Bhatt informs that individuals seeking a visa are first instructed to place their passport before Lord Hanuman and then recite the Hanuman Chalisa after the priest. They are also encouraged to visit any Hanuman temple once a week and recite the Hanuman Chalisa. “It’s all about one’s ‘shraddha’ (faith). With faith, all things are achievable. If doubts arise, disappointment is inevitable,” the priest notes, recounting instances where individuals secured visas within an hour of performing the ritual, even after multiple denials. One individual from Ahmedabad, who had faced a visa rejection previously, learned from friends that worship at the Chamatkari Hanuman temple could yield results. “I truly believe I will receive my US visa in the next interview,” they express before engaging in the temple rites.
A short walk down a dusty lane filled with hardware shops leads to the Shree Siddhi Peeth Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir in Delhi’s Neb Sarai. Pandit Narayan Mishra, who has served at the mandir for the past five years, states that applicants often abstain from meat, alcohol, onions, and garlic for 41 days in pursuit of the elusive visa stamp. “They articulate their manokamna (wish) on a slip of paper. We make the idol ‘read’ it and recite the mantras. After, it is placed in a box alongside the deity,” Mishra explains.
But what brings people from all over the country to this temple? “Perhaps because Hanuman is regarded as the first god to have traveled abroad to Lanka without any documentation,” he quips. Whether through folklore or jest, locals affirm the “magical abilities” of the shrine. “Visitors arrive in a state of distress, often seeing this as their final hope, and we generally see their wishes fulfilled. Just last week, an applicant who received their US visa in just two weeks came to the temple for a puja to express gratitude,” Mishra shares.
Despite Andhra software engineer Chandana C confessing to feeling disheartened after Trump’s electoral victory, she remains hopeful that her 25 visits to the Hyderabad temple over the past 25 months will not be in vain. “I have been visiting here every month since applying for the visa through a local consultancy. I realize the situation isn’t bright now, but I trust I will ultimately obtain it,” says the 26-year-old eager to pursue her American dream, just like her relatives before her.
Not only for their own desires, some partake in rituals on behalf of loved ones. Kaushik R, on his 56th pradakshina, mentions that he is there to pray for his older brother residing in North Carolina. “I hope his name is picked in the lottery and that he secures his H-1B. Should all go well, I plan to join the University of Cincinnati for a Master’s program later this year,” says the freshly graduated engineer, as he places equal faith in his skills and in Lord Balaji. “However, I will pray for myself later. This one is for my brother,” Kaushik adds before quickly returning to the queue. Right behind him stands Ravindra R, who is on the verge of realizing his dream job in Texas, needing only to complete the visa interview. “When I attend it, I know I will have Lord Balaji’s blessings with me. Nothing can hold me back,” the IT professional declares.
With additional reporting from Meghdoot Sharon in Ahmedabad
(Names of applicants altered upon request)
