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Ashok Sundar had just struck out '108' on the little chequered sheet standing inside the Chilkur Balaji temple - 20km from Hyderabad's skyscraper-studded Financial District. His beaming face, glossy polyester shirt and bright red vermilion tilak running right up to the hairline meant that the "visa god" had smiled upon him. Ashok got his passport stamped with H-1B a day earlier and was at the temple to show his gratitude.
Budget 2025 Updates New vs old income tax regime after Budget 2025: Post income tax slab changes, which tax regime is better for salaried middle class taxpayers? Latest income tax slabs FY 2025-26 Income Tax Slabs Budget 2025 Live Updates: No income tax up to Rs 12 lakh income He leaves for his new tech job in New Jersey in April. There were many Ashoks in the sea of people chanting 'Govinda, Govinda' as they walked around the deity at the temple, less than a fortnight after Donald Trump took over as the 47th President of the US. Since taking office, Trump has threatened to send back "millions and millions of criminal aliens", send troops to the southern border, and has even ordered the revoking of citizenship status for children of temporary visa holders.
The announcements have sent a chill down the spine of the immigrant community, both within the US and among those anxious to go there. Videos 03:48 Budget 2025 Cheaper & Costlier: Mobile Phones, EV Batteries, Leather Items & Medicines 9 hours ago 01:15:00 Budget 2025 Highlights: Major Tax Changes, FDI Raised To 100% In Insurance | FM's Full Speech 10 hours ago 05:39 Big Budget 2025 Bonanza For Middle Class; New Bill & Slabs, No Tax Till ₹12 Lakh Income | Watch 11 hours ago 03:03 Budget 2025: FM Nirmala Bolsters India's Nuclear Energy Sector; 5 Reactors In Just 8 Years | Watch 12 hours ago 02:20 Budget 2025: FM Nirmala's Big Healthcare Announcements: Daycare Cancer Centres & More 13 hours ago 58:58 President Droupadi Murmu's Mega Address To Joint Parliament Session | Budget 2025 1 day ago 01:13 Budget Session 2025: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Tables Economic Survey | Watch 1 day ago 12:02 Budget Session 2025: PM Narendra Modi Takes A Dig At ‘Shararati’ Opposition 1 day ago 03:21 'Don't Give Me Gyaan': Blistering Faceoff Between Akhilesh Yadav & Anurag Thakur In Lok Sabha 186 days ago 06:57 Rahul Gandhi Vs Om Birla: Five Big Moments Of Fiery Faceoff & Jibes | Watch 186 days ago 1 2 3 4 5 6 Indians dreaming of a new life in the US are now clinging to faith in the hope of a miracle - whether it is the Chilkur Balaji temple near Hyderabad, the Chamatkari Hanuman temple at Ahmedabad or the Shree Siddhi Peeth Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir in Delhi. "Eleven of us had applied last year," says Ashok, after completing his 108th pradakshina (circumambulation) of the temple dedicated to an avatar of Vishnu.
"I am the only one who got the visa. It is only because of Lord Balaji," adds the IT executive. He had prayed at the temple after submitting his visa papers in June 2024.
Ahmedabad's Chamatkari Hanuman temple, also called 'Visa Hanuman', has swelling crowds during the weekend, with just two prayers on their lips. Either it's "Lord, please grant me a visa" or it's "Lord, thank you for the visa." The 300-year-old temple has earned a "visa friendly" reputation, drawing devotees from as far as J&K and Meghalaya.
Pujari Vijay Bhatt says a person wishing to get a visa is first asked to place his or her passport before Lord Hanuman and then repeat the Hanuman Chalisa after the pujari. The applicant is also asked to visit any Hanuman temple once a week and repeat the Hanuman Chalisa. "It's all about one's 'shraddha'.
If there is faith, all things are possible. If doubts creep into one's mind, then one is bound to face disappointment," says the priest, adding that he has been witness to instances where a visa has been secured within an hour of conducting the ritual, even after three or four visa denials. One such Ahmedabad resident whose US visa has been rejected once, got to know from friends that praying at the Chamatkari Hanuman temple will work wonders.
"I have complete faith that I will be granted a US visa in my next interview," he says, before going through the temple rituals. Down a dusty lane filled with hardware shops stands the Shree Siddhi Peeth Chamatkari Hanuman Mandir at Delhi's Neb Sarai. Pandit Narayan Mishra, who has been officiating at the mandir for the last five years, says people give up meat, alcohol, onion and garlic for 41 days in their quest for the elusive visa stamp.
"They write their manokamna (wish) on a piece of paper. We take the slip of paper and make the idol 'read it' and chant the mantras. It is then placed in a box next to the deity," Mishra says.
But what makes people come from across the country to the temple? "Perhaps because Hanuman is considered the first god to have travelled outside the country to Lanka without any paperwork," he adds with a smile. Folklore or an attempt at humour, people in the area attest to the "magical powers" of the shrine. "People come in a very disturbed state of mind.
This is their last resort, and we usually find that their wishes do come true. Just last week, an applicant who got his US visa in only two weeks came to the temple for a puja to thank God," shares Mishra. Though Andhra software engineer Chandana C confesses to being crestfallen after Trump's success in the elections, she is now hopeful that her 25 visits to the Hyderabad temple in the last 25 months will not go in vain.
"I have been coming here every month since I applied for the visa through a local consultancy. I know things aren't looking bright right now, but I have faith I will eventually get it," says the 26-year-old desperate to realise her American dream, just like all her other relatives did. Not just for themselves, some even go through the ritual motions for their beloved kin.
Kaushik R, on his 56th pradakshina, says that he is there to pray for his older brother living in North Carolina. "I am praying that his name is selected in the lottery process, and he gets his H-1B. If all goes well, I will also join the University of Cincinnati for a MS programme later this year," says the freshly-minted engineering graduate - pinning his hopes on his talent and Lord Balaji in equal measure.
"But I will pray for myself later. This is for my brother," Kaushik adds, before quickly returning to his place in the queue. Right behind him is Ravindra R, who has landed himself his dream job in Texas.
There's just one step for him to clear now: the visa interview. "When I go for it, I know I will have Lord Balaji's blessings with me. Nothing can stop me," the IT professional says.
With additional reporting from Meghdoot Sharon in Ahmedabad (Applicants' names changed on request) Get real-time updates on Budget 2025 and Income Tax Slabs on Times of India . Check out the latest income tax slabs FY 2025-26 ..
