Pilgrimage to the Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh is incomplete without a piece of laddu, the most sought after prasadam at one of the richest Hindu temples in the world. It has been more than 300 years since laddu was introduced in the naivedhyam to Lord Venkateshwara in August 1715. Surprisingly, this sacred prasadam never falls short of demand even during the peak season of pilgrimage to the hilltop Tirumala shrine. In 2018, Brahmotsavam, the biggest crowd-pulling annual celebration at the Tirumala Temple, saw a record-breaking sale of 5,13,566 laddus on a single day. This pre-pandemic sale is still a landmark event in the history of the temple.

The whole-year-sale of the Tirupati Laddu contributes minimum Rs 500 crore to the Tirumala Temple’s annual revenue of Rs 3000 crore on average. Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indians abroad, shares with you some interesting facts about the Tirupati Laddu also known as Sri Vari Laddu.

The making and distribution of the sacred prasadam in colossal quantities makes an interesting case study for management students. The Tirumala Temple kitchen where a daily average of 3 lakh laddus and other prasadam are made is called Laddu Potu. Equipped with modern amenities, the Potu can produce 800,000 laddus a day. There are three conveyor belts for transferring ingredients from one end to the other. About 10 tons of gram flour, 300-500 liters of pure ghee, 700 kg of cashew nuts, 540 kg of raisins, 150 kg of cardamom, and 500 kg of sugar candy go into the making of the Tirumala laddu prasadam every day.

Interestingly, the Tirupati laddu undergoes rigorous checks on the index of quality, calorie count, and self-life at a dedicated testing lab before making it to the deity as part of the daily naivedhyam. Not just the final product, but also each of the ingredients used in the making of the holy prasadam undergoes multiple quality checks at the lab. It is said that the secret recipe of the signature laddu dates back to the Pallava dynasty that ruled the southern Telugu and Tamil regions for about 600 years (from 275 CE to 897 CE).

The Tirupati Temple laddu prasadam not only satisfies devotees’ yearning for divine bliss, but also supports the local economy. The daily making of 300,000 laddus or more and other prasadam generates employment for hundreds of local people. About 600 people, including 270 cooks, are employed in the prasad-making unit of the Tirumala Temple kitchen that works three shifts spanning 20 hours a day. Some of them are permanent workers, while some work on a contract basis. More contractual workers are roped in to ramp up the production of laddus for an influx of devotees during the Brahmotsavam. Some volunteers from the Vaishnava community come forward to offer free service in the temple kitchen on festive days.

Until before the pandemic, the world renowned Tirupati Temple laddu used to be made and distributed in three categories: the prasadam laddu, the big laddu, and the small laddu. The Tirumala Temple’s Potu (kitchen) used to produce some 3000 ‘big laddus’ weighing 700 gram each and 75000 ‘prasadam laddus’ weighing 250 gram each on a daily basis, in addition to the continued production of 3 to 3.5 lakh ‘small laddus’ weighing 175 grams each. Among devotees, the VVIPs would get one big laddu free of cost. The special ‘darshan’ ticket holders would get the same for Rs 200 each before the pandemic. Rs 170 was the cost of making a big Tirupati laddu back then. The temple authorities would spend Rs 39 for making a single unit of the most sought after small laddu.

Until the end of 2019, the temple administration offered two small laddus at a subsidized price of Rs 10 each to ‘Divya darshan’ and ‘Sarvadarshan’ devotees. A maximum of two extra laddus were available for Rs 25 each. Devotees wishing to take more prasadam home, in addition to the aforementioned quantity, they would have to pay Rs 50 for a single piece of the small laddu. The complexity of making laddus in three different categories, and the subsidized pricing under different ‘darshan’ systems had been incurring an average loss of Rs 250 crore every year until the entire system, from production to distribution, was simplified by removing multiple size categories and differential prices, right from the beginning of 2020.

Also Check: Tirupati Balaji Temple’s New VIP Darshan System

Now every devotee receives the blessing of Sri Venkateshwara Swamy in the form of a Tirupati laddu (free of cost) after darshan of the deity in the temple. In addition to the free prasadam, any number of laddus can be availed for Rs 50 each in the open counters.

The Tirupati laddu got a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2009, which prevents sweet outlets of all sizes from selling counterfeit versions of the laddu. In 2013, the Madras High Court banned the sale of laddus with the brand tag ‘Tirupati’ at a Chennai-based sweet store, in an effort to preserve the sanctity of the Tirumala prasadam as it is touched at the holy feet of Lord Venkateshwara being distributed to pilgrims.

In August 2021, the Tirupati Temple administration took a step towards the green future by replacing single-use plastic bags with biodegradable bags for devotees to carry the prasadam all the way back home. There is a dedicated counter on the premises where devotees can buy these eco-friendly bags before moving on to the laddu counters. Made of corn starch at a lab of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in Hyderabad, the bags are not harmful for both environment and cattle. The temple authorities had distributed the prasadam in about 10 crore single-use plastic bags during the period from 2014 to 2019.

In the 2022-23 budget for the Tirupati Balaji Temple, the governing board expected a revenue Rs 4000 crore, including Rs 400 crore from the sale of the legendary laddu prasadam, Rs 670 crore from the interest accrued on fixed deposits in several banks, Rs 360 crore from the sale of darshan tickets, Rs 126 crore from the sale of devotees’ tonsured hair, and Rs 1000 crore from devotee’s direct contribution to the hundi.

The daily sale of the holy prasadam is unaffected despite the recent #TirupatiLaddu controversy, as nearly 14 lakh laddus have been sold from September 19 to 23, 2024, as per media reports. Unsurprisingly, the faith of devotees from across the country remains unshaken.

How to reach Tirupati Balaji Temple 

About 560 km is the distance between Hyderabad and Tirupati. The distance from Bangalore to Tirupati is some 250 km. 155km is the distance from Chennai to Tirupati. Tirupati Airport (Renigunta) is a short flight from Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad International Airports. Tirupati Town is a 15km drive from Renigunta Airport.

The post A Sneak Peek into the History, Production, Sale of Tirupati Laddu: Interesting Facts about Holy Prasadam appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

At some temples in India, Venkateswara Swamy, Sri Ganesha, and Sankatmochan Hanuman double up as “Visa Gods” for hundreds of thousands of Indians wishing to study, work, live and settle abroad. Pesky paperwork, convoluted process, visa appointment delay, fears of rejection, and likes drive ambitious individuals with their passports in folded hands to the visa temples where the deities are believed to answer their prayers for visa approvals. After all, Indians are known for their steadfast faith in the divine power.

What makes India the largest beneficiary of H1B and L1 visas issued by the United States every year? It is the visa temples in India, and one of them is in Telangana. Hardly 25km from the IT corridor of Hyderabad City, Sri Chilkur Balaji Temple grants visa boons to STEM students and software professionals aspiring to live the American Dream. Though the temple is nearly 500 years old, it came to be known as Visa Balaji temple in Hyderabad only in the 1980s.

Hundreds of visa seekers from far and wide throng the temple daily, with the crowd swelling on weekends during visa seasons. Hyderabad’s Chilkur Balaji Temple is believed to expedite the visa paperwork, remove obstacles from the process, and minimize the visa interview delay (if there is any) for those who make 11 pradakshinas around the sanctum sanctorum, chanting ‘Govinda’ with devotion. They revisit the temple and perform 108 pradakshinas out of gratitude to the deity if they are blessed with their desired visas to travel/settle abroad.

No wonder why the twin states of Telugu-speaking people receive a majority of US student visas and US employment visas every year.

Let’s travel straight to Punjab where a village named Talhan near Jalandhar has one of the visa temples in India. Unlike other visa temples where coconuts and flowers are offered to the deity, the Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara receives toy planes from the visa seekers. Not only students aspiring foreign degrees or working professionals looking to have a better life overseas, but also parents seeking well-to-do NRI grooms for their daughters visit the gurudwara in Talhan.

Unsurprisingly, the market outside the gurudwara has several shops dealing in toy planes of different sizes, which sell like hot cakes. The prevailing belief is that those offering prayers at the Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara in Talhan are blessed with the increased likelihood of international travel to USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia. The 150-year-old gurudwara features a huge replica of aircraft atop its roof similar to various rooftop sculptures in some Punjab villages with NRI population.

Gujarat is no exception in the context of a visa god or goddess whose divine intervention is ritually sought to expediate visa approvals. Tens of hundreds of visa aspirants from across Gujarat and Rajasthan visit Chamatkarik Hanuman Mandir in Khadia, Ahmedabad every day.  The presiding deity of this modest temple is locally known as ‘Visa Hunauman’, as Lord Hanuman was the only one to have travelled overseas (without documents) in search of Devi Sita.

The visa Hanuman Mandir in Ahmedabad earned the moniker ‘Chamatkarik’ as it is believed to have done miracles even for those who had fewer chances for visa approval. The temple priests perform certain rituals to invoke Lord Hanuman and seek His blessings for devotees wishing to travel abroad.

The national capital, New Delhi, is home to two such temples granting visa boons to Indians, irrespective of caste, community, and economic status. One of the two is Pracheen Hanuman Mandir near the VFS Global Application Center at Connaught Place. Among the oldest and most popular temples in Delhi, Pracheen Hanuman Mandir is a go-to destination for those who dream of taking flights from New Delhi to USA and other countries for better opportunities.

Also, B1/B2 visa seekers visit the temple as their travel plans often take a backseat due to visa appointment delays at the US Embassy, New Delhi (where 475 days is the current wait time).

Located on IGNOU Road, Chamatkari Visa Wale Hanuman Mandir is another such place in Delhi for those awaiting coveted US visa stamps on their passports. International travel aspirants and visa applicants write their problems in red ink on a piece of paper and offer it at the feet of Lord hanuman in the temple. Interestingly, this visa temple keeps a register for those who write ‘thank you’ notes as a gesture of gratitude if their visa issues are resolved.

The trail of visa temples across India ends at the Sri Lakshmi Visa Ganapathy Temple in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Located within 10km from the US Consulate in Chennai City, the temple is frequented by troubled visa seekers with passports in one hand and coconuts in the other hand. Sri Ganesha, the god of happy beginnings, is revered as the remover of visa-related obstacles for one’s international journey at this temple. Since visa approval marks the beginning of an international trip, irrespective of the purpose, Tamil Nadu’s only visa temple in Chennai has become a beacon of hope for those anticipating visa delays or fearing visa interviews.

The post India is Home to 6 Visa Temples where Many NRIs Got Visa Boons to Live American Dream or Work in Other Countries appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

In July 2022, Ford that linked Detroit to Chennai for 25 years shut down its production unit in India for having accumulated operating losses of over $2bn since 2012. But the Ford scion, Ambarish Das – the great grandson of legendary Henry Ford – is still in India, not as a corporate honcho but a disciple of Srila Prabhupada Maharaj, the founder of ISKCON. He is busy shaping up his guru’s vision of the world’s largest Radha-Krishna temple – the Temple of Vedic Planetarium – in Mayapur, the ultimate destination for divine love in rural Bengal.

Alfred Brush Ford, who is the chairman of the $100M project and donated over $30 million for it, took up the Hindu name, Ambarish Das, after being initiated by Swami Prabhupada on their first meeting in Dallas, Texas in 1974. He accompanied Swami Prabhupada on his first trip to India from the US in 1975, which led the course of his life towards the ocean of devotion and spirituality. He took a plunge into the deepest recess of Krishna consciousness and came out wearing a chandan tilak on his forehead, like millions of ISKCON devotees.

PC: TOVP.org

Located on the Ganges whose holy water seems to be washing the feet of Krishna, the Temple of Vedic Planetarium is on the verge of completion under Alfred Ford’s supervision, though the mighty construction began in 2008. Spread over more than a half of the ISKCON Mayapur campus, the Vedic Temple – also known as Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – is bigger than the Taj Mahal, London’s St Paul Cathedral, and the Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul.

Inspired by the design of the US Capitol building, India’s first religious monument of Vedic science and culture can accommodate 10,000 people together in its main prayer hall sprawling 1.5 acres. The 113-m high dome over the main temple hall is the second tallest in the world, next to the dome of St Peter’s Basilica Church in the Vatican. The dome features a grand chandelier depicting a rotating 3-dimensional model of the universe as described in the Vedic scriptures, including the Srimad Bhagavatam. The cosmic chandelier is designed in a way so as to show the hierarchy of the universe from different levels of escalators.

Not only Ambarish Das, but also his Indian American wife, Sharmila Bhattacharya from Bengal, and their two daughters who live in Florida are invested in the construction of the ISKCON Temple of Vedic Planetarium. The couple made a whopping donation from their personal wealth and collected funds from different parts of India for the temple. Anisha Ford, one of their two daughters, received a gift of $1 million from her grandmother after having earned a master’s degree from Harvard University. She donated the gift money for the construction of Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir.

Alfred Ford aka Ambarish Das and his Indian-origin wife Sharmila Bhattacharya in the middle

The meticulous use of Bolivian blue marble sourced from Vietnam and South America has lent pristine blue luster to the three domes of temple. The planetarium wing on the east side of the world’s biggest religious monument in Bengal will house a state-of-the-art theatre with seating capacity for 200 viewers. The large domed screen of the theatre will demonstrate India’s Vedic science of the cosmos. Exhibits to be displayed across the four floors of the planetarium wing will give an educational experience of Vedic Cosmology.

The west side of the Mayapur Temple of Vedic Planetarium houses a magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Narsimha. The five levels of the Narsimha Temple will be adorned with marvelous artworks depicting the stories of Bhakta Prahalad and Lord Narsimha. The ceiling of the Narsimha temple dome will feature nearly 450 diamond-like coffer panels with gold leaves. The divine spectacle of this wing will be complemented by ten 7-meter tall ‘deva murtis’ which will be placed in such a way so as to bow to the Lord, with their hands folded in reverence. Reportedly, the gates to the Narsimha wing will open in October 2023.

80 miles from Kolkata, Mayapur – the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a 15^th century Vaishnava saint – will become a spiritual Disneyland with various facilities for devotees of different age-groups after the grand opening of the temple early in 2024. The world’s largest temple with the biggest dome in Bengal will house a Vedic science center, an institute for science and spirituality, a world-class research center, and an institute for higher studies.

PC: TOVP.org

The post India’s Largest Vedic Planetarium Temple Opens at ISKCON Mayapur with Help of Ford Scion & his Indian Wife appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

The revolution of transforming the contemporary socio-cultural landscape of India with sky-penetrating statues seems to have spread to America. After housing the temple with the tallest gopuram (87-feet) in North Carolina and the world’s second largest Hindu temple in New Jersey, America unveiled the tallest standing statue of Lord Hanuman on 18 August following a three-day prana pratishtha ceremony in the south coast. Remarkably, the 90-feet tall Hanuman sculpture is the third tallest statue in the United States, next to the Statue of Liberty in New York, and the Pegasus & Dragon in Florida.

Named the Statue of Union, the Hanuman sculpture has been inaugurated at Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land, Texas. It is the tallest Hanuman statue not only in USA but in North America. Made of panchdhatu, the statue stands tall on a massive pedestal designed like a lotus and supported by elephant sculptures. The statue has been shaped in the posture of blessing devotees with both hands, unlike traditional statues of Lord Hanuman holding his principal weapon in one hand.

The 90-feet tall Hanuman statue in Texas is named ‘Statue of Union’ in a tribute to Lord Hanuman who was instrumental in finding the whereabouts of Devi Sita and helping Sri Rama rescue her from Ravana. The reunion of Sri Rama and Devi Sita would not have been possible without Hanuman. Precisely, he is highly regarded as an eternal emblem of devotion, strength, commitment, and selfless service. The statue took one year to be built after the foundation was laid in May 2023.

With the Hanuman Statue of Union, Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple near Houston, has become a spiritual epicenter for Indian immigrants and Americans of Indian descent, amid the decline of social values, the erosion of human ethos, and the rise of conflicts across geographies. It is a must see for visiting Indians in the USA. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and her eight divine forms.

The newly inaugurated Statue of Union in Texas took the distinction of being the tallest Hanuman statue in USA from the one at the Hindu Temple of Delaware. It broke the record of the 45-tonne heavy and 25-feet tall Hanuman statue which was installed at the Hindu Temple of Hockessin, Delaware, in 2020. The life-size statue was constructed in Telangana and transported from Hyderabad to New York by sea for $100,000. Currently, the 50-feet tall Mangal Murti Hanuman idol in Ontario, Canada is the second tallest statue of Lord Hanuman in North America.

Brought to you by Indian Eagle, the leading travel-booking partner of Indians in USA, this article is part of our continued series on new attractions in America for the Indian Diaspora. Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, is a one-stop portal for US-India travel news, US visa & immigration updates, community stories, and Indian events in USA.

Also check out this short video on 5 new grand temples and lofty statues in India

The post USA Unveils Massive 90-feet Statue of Lord Hanuman, the Tallest Hanuman Statue in North America appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Similar to the largest Akshardham Swaminarayan Temple in America, the Middle East’s first-ever stone temple is all set for a grand inauguration on February 14. Located near Zayed International Airport of Abu Dhabi, the BAPS Hindu Mandir resembles a lotus in the sprawling desert from high on. The temple, a monumental piece of architecture spread across 27 acres of land donated by the UAE government, is a beacon of global harmony, embodying the cultural legacy of both countries – India and the UAE.

The BAPS Hindu Mandir in UAE makes for an ideal detour for Indian travelers transiting through Dubai DXB Airport or Abu Dhabi (now Zayed International) Airport. This newest addition to a Dubai or Abu Dhabi stopover itinerary would turn your layover into a spiritual sojourn when you connect to India or USA via the UAE. Built for a whopping US$ 110 million, the temple with 410 pillars rises 108 feet above the golden sandscape of Abu Dhabi.

PC: DDnews.gov.in

A spiritual oasis for global harmony in the Gulf

With its foundation laid in 2017, the temple is a beautiful artwork in stone that evokes wonder and admiration for thousands of skilled artisans, engineers and volunteers from India, the UAE, the US and other countries. “A Muslim king donated for a Hindu mandir, where the lead architect is a Catholic Christian, the project manger is a Sikh, the foundational designer is a Buddhist, the director is from the Jain community, and the construction company is a Paris group,” said a BAPS spokesperson. Indeed, the temple is a tangible emblem of communal harmony in the Gulf.

Massive construction and 700,000 volunteering hours     

The construction of Abu Dhabi’s BAPS Hindu Temple had been a huge logistic undertaking over the past four years. 180,000 cubic feet of sandstone from Rajasthan and 40,000 cubic feet of marble from Italy have gone into the making of this spiritual Xanadu. More than 25,000 hand-carved pieces of stone from India were assembled on site as per the preconceived digital model. It demanded more than 690,000 hours of over 200 volunteers from different walks of life.

The temple construction commanded strict adherence to the principles of Shilpa Shastra. The use of iron and steel was completely avoided in the construction of the Middle East’s first BAPS mandir, just like Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir. Fly ash was predominantly used in the concrete mix for the foundation to make the temple sustain 1000 years in extreme temperatures of Abu Dhabi. Interestingly, 100 sensors have been embedded in the foundation and 350 sensors throughout the temple structure to receive data on seismic activity, pressure changes and temperature volatility in the area surrounding the temple.

Design, architecture, sculpture, facilities, attractions

BAPS Hindu Mandir, Abu Dhabi is a spiritual Xanadu with a waterfall, a Varanasi-like ghat, a pillar of pillars, and the Dome of Harmony. Despite being a modern structure, the temple exudes the age-old charm of ancient Indian stone shrines in its every inch from the splendid sandstone exterior to the majestic marble interior. The intricate carvings on the pillars, domes, walls and arches bring to life timeless tales of the Indian epics and teachings of the Hindu scriptures – which walk the followers of various faiths through the cultural heritage of Bharat.

The temple pays homage to its geographical host by integrating some elements of the Arabian heritage into its traditional design. The seven shikaras (spires) with beautiful figurines of Hindu gods and goddesses carved onto them, represent the seven emirates of the UAE. The temple walls feature carvings of horses, camels and falcons among the animal-centric motifs found in the Emirati sculpture, alongside engravings of classical dancers and musicians from the history of India. The Sun, the Moon, and other objects of celestial importance have also been sculpted to connect the temple with the cosmos.

BAPS Mandir of Abu Dhabi, open to all, is a congregation of the most worshiped deities from all over India. the temple has shrines dedicated to Radha Krishna, Ram Sita, Hanuman, Shiva Parvati, Lakshmi Narayana, Ganesha, Kartikeya, Jagannath, Ayyappa Swami, and Padmavati Venkateswara. It also houses lifelike idols of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Akshar-Purushottam. With a capacity to accommodate 10,000 people at a time, the temple has earned the distinction of being the largest temple in West Asia

Among the attractions within the  temple complex are thematic gardens, an amphitheater, and a waterfall feature symbolic of the confluence of three holy rivers – the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati. The amphitheater designed like a ghat on the Ganga River in Varanasi boasts of serene ambience. The temple complex also houses an exhibition hall, a meditation hall, a library, a food court, a visitor center, a gift shop, children’s playgrounds and several other facilities.

The Dome of Harmony, one of the architectural highlights of the temple, features exquisite carvings of the pancha bhutas – air, water, fire, earth and space – signifying the harmonious coexistence of these basic elements in the universe. Among other attractions are 96 bells adorning the path leading to the main temple. These bells collectively signifies Pramukh Swami Maharaja’s 96 years of mortal life on earth.

The post BAPS Mandir, UAE’s First Hindu Temple Built for $110M, is a Lotus in the Desert and a Beacon of Global Harmony appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

North America homes not only the largest Akshardham Temple in New Jersey, but also the temple with the tallest gopuram in stark contrast to the skyline of North Carolina dotted with modern high-rises. GOPURAM, a most distinctive feature of South Indian temple architecture, is more than a majestic structure at the main entrance of a temple. Rising to the sky, it attracts positive energy from the universe and serves as the gateway to a divine space brimming with cosmic energy. Precisely, it stands for India’s ancient history, cultural prosperity, and spiritual glory.

PC: Sri Venkateswara Temple, Cary | Facebook

North Carolina’s Sri Venkateswara Temple is the only Hindu shrine with the tallest gopuram in not just the States, but North America. Cary, a quaint town near Raleigh in the Research Triangle Park where thousands of Indians have settled over years, is the location of the temple. Though the temple was built in 2008, the 87-feet raja gopuram is the newest addition. The 7-storey gopuram of Sri Venkateswara Temple in Cary, NC was commissioned when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to its knees. The tower was erected and inaugurated when the world began to rise over the pandemic.

“The raja gopuram is the threshold between the mundane and the divine. Named the ‘Tower of Unity and Prosperity’, the intricately sculpted gopuram of North Carolina’s Sri Venkateswara Temple is where devotees leave their worries behind while stepping into the sacred complex, according to the board of trustees. So high is the sociocultural significance of temple towers that the entrance of Trichy International Airport’s new terminal is modelled on the 240-ft high gopuram of Ranganathaswamy Temple,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats.

The 2.5-million-dollar tower came into being because of the “donate a brick” program that elicited a warm response from the local Indian Diaspora. Evidently, the Tower of Unity and Prosperity signifies the growth and harmony of the Indian community in North Carolina, especially Wake County that houses over 51,000 Indian-origin immigrants, according to the 2021 census. Built in adherence to the Shilpa Shastra and Vastu Shastra principles, the tower was unveiled on Diwali, the festival of lights, in 2022, with North Carolina’s Governor Roy Cooper in attendance.

The temple housing a 9-ft murti of Sri Venkateswara Swamy is the Tirupati Balaji Temple of North Carolina. In the late 1990s, an Indian couple bought 2.8-acre land for the temple, raised funds for construction and laid the foundation brick. Inaugurated in 2009, the temple has the Dravidian style of architecture and features beautiful carvings of Hindu deities as well as mythological figures from the Indian epics. 14 skilled artisans from India were brought to Cary to sculpt the idols and figurines for the temple. There are also small shrines consecrated to 18 other gods and goddesses besides the presiding deity, Lord Venkateswara.

A bridge to the roots and a spiritual anchor for Indians in and around North Carolina, the temple has a gurukulam (traditional school) among other facilities within the 9-acre complex, which will house a two-story multipurpose assembly hall and a sprawling cafeteria in the next phase of expansion. It was at this temple that the state governor signed the historical Diwali Proclamation in 2017, declaring October as the month of Hindu Heritage.

Sri Somesvara Temple on Mount Soma, known as the Mount Kailash of America, is another must-visit place in North Carolina for Indians. Mount Soma, a 450-acre Vedic community amidst lush greenery and profound serenity, is where science and spirituality complement each other. Read our exclusive article about Mount Soma, home to one of the most beautiful jyotirlinga shrines outside of India.

Brought to you by Indian Eagle, the leading travel-booking partner of Indians in the US, this article is part of our continued series on the hidden gems of America for the Indian community. Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, is a one-stop portal for US-India travel news, US visa and immigration updates, community stories, and Indian events in USA.

The post This Indian Temple, Dubbed as the Tirupati Balaji Temple of East Coast, has Tallest Gopuram in America appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

India will ring in the New Year 2024 with elaborate preparations for the most anticipated inauguration of Ram Mandir, Ayodhya on 22 January – that will go down as a momentous event in the annals of Indian history. Of the most ambitious religious constructions, such as Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir and Mayapur ISKCON’s Vedic Planetarium Temple; the Ram Mandir is a manifestation of the deep-rooted faith of millions of Indians who hold Ram Lalla close to their hearts.

Designed 3 decades ago by Chandrakant Bhai Sompura, who hails from a renowned family of architects credited with over 200 shrines, including Gujarat’s Somnath Temple; the Ram Mandir of Ayodhya is a lot more than a brick-and-mortar edifice. Each and every brick in the grand temple complex, which will spread over 70 acres on the holy banks of the Saryu River, is concretizing the spiritual and cultural glory of India. It’s a harbinger of cultural renaissance, a testament to resilience, and a monument celebrating the homecoming of Ram Lalla.

Expected to be the world’s third largest temple next to BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, New Jersey upon the final-phase completion in 2025, the Ram Mandir complex will be spacious enough to host a million devotees at any time. The massive three-storey structure that rises 161 feet above ground is supported by a 50-ft deep foundation, ensuring that the temple can withstand the blows of time for at least one thousand years without requiring renovation. The foundation can resist even a 6.5-magnitude earthquake, asserts Champat Rai, the general secretary of the temple trust.

A sneak peek into garbhagriha of Ram Mandir

The garbhagriha of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir is a world of ancient Indian art in itself. A kaleidoscope of various sculptures from different parts of the country, it is modelled on the inner sanctum of Gujrat’s Modhera Sun Temple wherein the first rays of the sun fall on the deity. Similarly, the garbhagriha of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is designed in such a way adhering to the millennia-old Vaastu Shastra principles that sunrays would fall on Ram Lalla to be enthroned on an 8-ft-high gold-plated marble throne. A 5-ft murti of Lord Ram shows Him as a 5-year-old child armed with a bow and an arrow.

Interestingly, no steel or iron has been used in construction of the Ayodhya temple. The main temple is built entirely of stones, wood, copper and white cement. Every brick with ‘Ram Naam’ engraved on it has gone into erecting the temple, just as the stones bearing the same sacred name were laid to build Ram Setu in Treta Yuga. It reflects unbridled devotion of Hindus through ages.

Artisans and sculptors from across India have come together to bring Ram Mandir alive as an immortal wonder on earth. The superstructure is carved out of Bansi Paharpur pink sandstone from Rajasthan. Crafted by a team of carpenters from the temple towns of Tamil Nadu, the 44 doors of the mandir, including the garbhagriha door and the main entrance, will leave devotees in awe of their intricate design, impeccable beauty, and geometrical precision.

A most intriguing feature of Ayodhya Ram Temple is its east-facing Gopuram-style entrance, masterfully integrating Dravidian glory into the Nagara architectural splendor. Every inch of the temple – from walls and doors to columns, ceilings and plinths – is adorned with exquisite carvings of gods, goddesses, and narratives from the epics and scriptures of India. The sculpture of the temple provides a window to the cultural heritage of Bharat. The 366 columns feature life-like idols of various avatars of Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, and Chausath (64) Yoginis.

An octagonal shikara towers above the sanctum sanctorum, which is surrounded by five dome-shaped mandapas. Kudu, Nritya, and Rang mandapas are located on one side of the garbhagriha whereas Kirtan and Prarthana mandapas are on the opposite side. Of the colossal temple accessories is a whopping 2100-kg bell that will fill the air of Ayodhya with sonority of the morning and the evening aarti. A 44-ft dhwaj dand (flag pole) will be perched atop the temple. A dhwaj dand or dhwaj stambh represents the cosmic axis and draws the energy of the universe to the garbhagriha.

Arrangements are in full swing for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony to take place on 22 January. 600 kg of desi ghee from Jodhpur and turmeric from Cambodia have already arrived in Ayodhya. The Maharishi Sandipani Ram Dharam Gaushala in Jodhpur sponsored ghee for the first aarti and hawan rituals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 10,000 dignitaries from different parts of the country will attend the inauguration ceremony. On the auspicious day of Ram Lalla’s consecration, a special puja will be performed at 5 lakh temples across India.

As per reports, a time capsule has been placed 200 feet under the ground where the foundation of the temple has been laid. The main objective of placing the time capsule is to save the origin of the temple so that the temple history can be traced thousands of years down the line.

The post Spread over 110 Acres, INR1800cr Ram Mandir of Ayodhya is India’s Largest and can Accommodate a Million Devotees appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

India is touching dizzying heights of glory with back-to-back massive constructions. The country, which is now home to the world’s tallest Statue of Unity in Gujarat, the world’s tallest Shiva statue in Rajasthan, and the world’s tallest railway bridge in Jammu & Kashmir, will see the inauguration of more wonders including the world’s largest Vedic monument in Bengal, and the world’s tallest temple in Uttar Pradesh.

The world’s tallest temple in question is Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir under construction at a whopping cost of $1 billion. Speculated to be one of the most expensive temple buildings in the world, this ISKCON temple will boast an astounding height of 700 feet on completion. Interestingly, the temple will surpass the world’s tallest Statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (597 feet) in height.

The temple complex sprawls over 62 acres, while the 7-story temple building will have a total floor area of 540,000 square feet. A contemporary touch to the temple’s traditional Nagara style of architecture is meant to serve ISKCON’s purpose to reinterpret the profound wisdom from India’s ancient scriptures like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam within the modern context to render their eternal relevance to the current generation.

The towering structure will have four temples on its four ends. The temples will be dedicated to Krishna Balram, Radha Krishna, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Swami Prabhupada. The main temple housing the idols of Radha Krishna will have a grand prayer hall that can accommodate 5000 devotees at a time. The prayer hall will be beautified with sculptures and frescoes depicting the life of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. The soon-to-be inaugurated Mayapur ISKCON Temple near Kolkata will have the largest prayer hall with space for 10,000 devotees.

Anticipated to be a colossal wonder of white marble, the world’s tallest ISKCON temple will feature a lotus-shaped dome with the glass surface that will be dazzling on moonlight nights. The temple is a dream project for renowned architect Bimal Patel, a Padma Shri awardee, and his team. He is the chief architect for the Rs 14000cr Centra Vista, Gandhinagar Akshardham Temple, Gujarat High Court, Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, Varanasi Viswanath Dham, and the new campus of IIM Ahmedabad.

The upcoming Radha Krishna temple site in the holy land of Vrindavan will also house a spiritual sanctuary comprising 12 forests, which will be named Madhuvana, Talavana, Kumudavana, Bahulavana, Kamyavana, Khadiravana, Vrindavana, Bhadravana, Bilvavana, Lohavana, Bhandiravana, and Mahavana after the twelve gardens of Brijbhumi. These forests are said to be modelled on the gardens described in the stories of Sri Krishna. Each forest will be landscaped with orchards, lush vegetation, green pastures, waterfalls, lotus ponds, musical fountains and artificial hillocks.

There will be a heritage museum, a library, a cultural center, and a viewing tower with telescopes at the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Temple complex. Visitors can catch panoramic views of the premises, Vrindavan town and the Yamuna River from the viewing tower. The 7-storey temple tower will have an elevator. Visitors will be able to enjoy a light and sound show on the universe’s planetary systems, as described in the Vedic literatures of Bharat.

Seva being integral to the culture and philosophy of ISKCON temples worldwide, the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir will have a spacious Annadanam Hall and food distribution counters. Sadhus, pilgrims and the underprivileged will be served sattvic meals in the well-ventilated Annadanam Hall, while the food distribution counters will offer one serving of prasadam to every visitor. A huge temple kitchen where sattvic food will be cooked for the deities, priests and visitors is also on the construction agenda.

An expansive biodiversity park within the temple complex will feature themed zones like sacred forest, butterfly park, and ayurvedic herbal garden. It will not only serve as a natural habitat for some local species of flora and fauna, but also provide a serene space for visitors to revel in the beauty of nature. Beautiful nature trails will meander through flower gardens, trees, small lakes, and water fountains. A walk through the ayurvedic herbal garden will enrich your knowledge of medicinal plants.

One of the most interesting facts about ISKCON’s Vrindavan Chandrodaya Temple is that its foundation is deeper than the world’s tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa in Dubai by five meters. Burj Khalifa has got its foundation rooted 50 meters under the surface. Moreover, the temple will have earthquake-proof features, like shock-absorbing foundations and seismic isolation systems. Despite its location in the earthquake-prone region of the country, the temple can withstand intense tremors up to magnitude 7.5.

Reportedly, one end of the temple complex will be connected to the other end with skywalks. Devotees from across the country will have various accommodation options to enjoy the divine bliss for a few days within the complex. Other than a helipad, the temple site will have a 12-acre parking lot, goshalas, and a huge convention hall for religious and cultural events. The convention hall can also be booked for marriages and other social ceremonies.

Interestingly, the temple site is expected to have a Krishna theme park with fun rides among various attractions for young devotees (kids). other than community development, welfare programs for the underprivileged and widows of Vrindavan will be on the agenda of the temple body, as per reports. While Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir is expected to be fully completed in 2026, its south wing is set for inauguration in the auspicious month of Kartik in 2023.

Vrindavan is a 3-hr drive from New Delhi IGI Airport, which is well connected with major US cities by Air India, British Airways and other airlines.

The post Interesting Facts about Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir in India: World’s Tallest Temple under Construction appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Hindus make up half of the Indian American community in the United States, according to the 2023 Pew Research Center Survey. Their cultural identity and contribution to America’s ethnic diversity is being acknowledged more than ever. The opening of America’s largest Hindu temple in New Jersey and the celebration of Hindu heritage by more than 20 US states in the month of October are testimonies to their cultural influence on the American way of life.

Recently, the state of Michigan declared October as ‘Hindu Heritage’ month through an official proclamation. Celebrating this monumental achievement for Indians in Michigan, Travel Beats – Indian Eagle Travel’s community portal for Indian Diaspora in America – takes you on a trail to five best temples in Farmington, Novi, Canton, Detroit, and Pontiac. These temples in Michigan are not just places of worship, but also hubs of community events.

Sri Sharadamba Temple, Farmington Hills

Of the new temples in Michigan, Sri Sharadamba Temple is dedicated to Goddess Sharadamba, who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Saraswati. The second cultural establishment of Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation (SVBF) in the United States, the Sri Sharadamba Temple of Michigan is next to the first such temple located in Pennsylvania. The other two temples are coming up in Houston, Texas and San Diego, California.

The Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation is an extension of the ancient Sringeri Sharada Peetham in Karnataka, established by the 8^th century Advaita Vedanta philosopher, Adi Shankara whose 108-ft statue of Oneness was unveiled for Rs 2141 crore in Madhya Pradesh on September 21. The new campus of Sri Sharadamba Temple in Farmington Hills spreads across 17,000 sq. ft and houses several shrines of Hindu gods and goddesses.

The main sanctum enshrines the Panchaloha (a mix of five alloys) murti of Sri Sharadamba, along with the idols of Adi Shankara and Chandramouleeswara (Lord Shiva). With intricate carvings and delicate sculptures, the temple features a spacious community hall and a temple kitchen. The other shrines on the temple premise are consecrated to Durga, Hanuman, Sri Rama, and Sri Krishna.

Sri Venkateshwara Balaji Temple, Novi

Among the Hindu temples in and around Detroit, Sri Venkateshwara Balaji Temple of Novi stands for the faith and harmony of the Telugu-speaking Indians in Michigan. Built by the Detroit Telugu Association, the two-storey temple is home to Lord Venkateshwara Swamy, the presiding deity of Tirumala Tirupati in India. Envisioned as a ‘cultural and spiritual anchor’ for the Hindu community in Oakland County, the temple caters to the spiritual appetite of and provides cultural enlightenment to devotees.

The temple has a modest canteen, though not as huge as New York’s Ganesh Temple Canteen in size or menu. Known as Balaji Kitchen, the canteen serves authentic South Indian dishes such as idli, sambar, vada, upma, and pongal on Saturdays. The temple complex also houses a library, and an art and heritage section where one can learn deeper about Indian cultural heritage through events and programs held there. Sri Venkateshwara Temple of Novi also enshrines the idols of Sri Ganesha, Sri Hanuman, and Goddess Lakshmi.

The Hindu Temple of Canton

Established in 1990, the Hindu Temple of Canton is one of the most beautiful and serene temples in Michigan. Unlike most temples in America, this temple does not have any presiding deity. Landscaped with well-manicured gardens, the temple complex houses the shrines of Lord Krisha and Radha; Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati; Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Lord Hanuman; Goddess Durga, Lord Ganesh; and Lord Balaji with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.

The Hindu Temple of Canton in Michigan is more than a mandir with a spacious multipurpose hall, a grand prayer hall, a kitchen, a guest room, a library, a dining area, and a gift shop. The multipurpose hall can accommodate over 600 devotees together, and the main prayer hall has the seating capacity for nearly 1000 devotees. There is prasad distribution area too. There is a parking lot with space for nearly 130 vehicles at a time.

Other than hosting religious and community events, the temple offers an educational scholarship program to three eligible graduating seniors among the registered members of the temple. The scholarship application form can be downloaded from the temple website. All Hindu festivals are celebrated with equal enthusiasm at the temple nourishing the cultural and spiritual heritage of Indian immigrants.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Detroit

The grand Akshardham Mandirs in different parts of USA shine as icons of India’s cultural and architectural heritage and Detroit’s Swaminarayan Mandir is no different. It is among the most-visited temples in Michigan, with visitors from all far ends of the state. Inaugurated in 2015, the temple is more than just a place of worship for Hindus. It serves as a philosophical and spiritual learning center for anyone interested in Hindu way of life. The place is imbued with a divine aura that can mystify anyone. Apart from the cultural and spiritual programs, BAPS Swaminarayan temple also hosts a variety of charitable acts to bring various communities together to take part in the acts of seva (service).

Devi Parashakthi Temple, Pontiac 

Indian immigrants of Michigan visit Devi Parashakthi Temple in Pontiac to seek the blessings of Shiva Shakti. Built in 1999, the temple is dedicated to Parashakti Karumari Ambika and one of the Shanmatha tirthas (pilgrimage sites) in the West. Shanmatha refers to the Smart tradition aligned with Adi Shankara’s Advaita Vedanta philosophy. The Smarta tradition is known for the worship of five shrines with five deities – Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha, Vishnu, and Surya.

Parashakti Karumari Amman, the presiding deity of Michigan’s Devi Parashakti Temple, is commonly worshiped in Tamil Nadu villages around Chennai. The temple architecture is inspired by the Dravidian style of temple architecture prominent in South India. sprawling across 16 acres of forested land in the heart of Pontiac MI, the temple has a Navagraha mandapam where devotees offer prayers to the nine celestial planets in the solar system.

Annadanam is one of the humanitarian rituals practiced at the temple where a huge kitchen and a big multipurpose hall were recently built as part of the expansion plans. Devotees offer prayers to Lord Ayyappa, Lord Hanuman, Sri Bala Murugan, Sri Radha Krishna, Lord Jagannath, Lord Venkateshwara Swami, Shiva Lingam, Lord Kubera, and Sri Astha Lakshmi at the temple.

This article is part of the series, Indian Life in America, by Travel Beats, a leading community portal for Indian Diaspora. Travel Beats is a subsidiary of IndianEagle.com that thousands of Indians in USA have chosen as their reliable travel-booking partner for international trips. Subscribe to our newsletter for community stories, US-India travel news, visa and immigration updates.

The post Michigan Declares October as Hindu Heritage Month! You can Visit These 5 Temples to Celebrate Your Heritage appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Hundreds of thousands of Indian immigrants’ spiritual heritage and deep-rooted divine faith have finally taken shape as America’s largest Hindu temple, BAPS Akshardham Mandir in New Jersey. After 12 long years of intensive construction in five phases, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple of Robbinsville NJ will be ceremonially inaugurated on October 8 under the auspices of Mahant Swami Maharaj and in the presence of prominent Indian American community leaders. However, the temple will welcome visitors from October 18, the fourth day of Navaratri 2023.

Sprawling across over 180 acres in Robbinsville, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir is said to be next to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat Temple Complex in size and area. It may continue to be the world’s second largest temple until the Mayapur Temple of Vedic Planetarium is inaugurated in 2024. Incepted in 2010 under the supervision of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the New Jersey Indian temple, though incomplete then, opened its door to devotees first in 2014.

PC: BAPS.org

The making of BAPS Swaminarayan Temple Robbinsville was a marathon spanning 12 years and involving nearly 13,000 volunteers from across the USA. The monumental construction thousands of miles away from India was a multifaced process that ran from Europe to India to the US. Made of chiseled Italian marbles sourced from different parts of Europe and hand-carved in Rajasthan, the temple is bigger and higher than the Akshardham Mandir in New Delhi.

One of the interesting facts about the world’s largest Akshardham Temple in New Jersey is that as many as 2000 craftsmen in Rajasthan hand-carved the marble stones from Europe into beautiful pieces of art with chisels and hammers; the pieces were assembled twice. The marble pieces were assembled in India first to check if they would fit accurately and then, they were subsequently numbered. They were finally organized and assembled in the US, according to their numbers.

Undeniably, it was quite challenging to transport the two million cubic feet of marble stones 21,500 miles from Europe to India and then to America.

Needless to say, the temple is an aesthetically wonderful edifice both outside and inside in its complete form. It is encased with a colossal mandap for external protection. The 135-ft wide mandap with delicate engravings on the pillars stands 55 feet tall. The main gate of the mandap, called Mayur Dwar, is a major attraction of the temple. Robbinsville Swaminarayan Temple’s Mayur Dwar is meticulously adorned with 236 sculptures, including peacocks, elephants, monks and devotees carved out of marble.

Mayur Dwar (PC: BAPS.org)

“The sculptural beauty of the Mayur Dwar will leave you in awe of the artisans who achieved this rare feat in the 21^st century. It captures the cultural zeitgeist of the pre-Sultanate era when the Dravidian temple architecture known for intricate designs and intensive wall carvings had flourished,” said Sourav Agarwal, the Editor of Travel Beats, a one-stop community portals for Indians in America.

The mandap comprises a grand prayer hall which is spacious enough to accommodate more than 1000 people at a time. Among the breathtaking features of New Jersey’s BAPS Akshardham Mandir are two heavily ornate domes, unique to India’s traditional stone architecture, which are designed to last a thousand years. There are one main shrine, 12 sub-shrines, 9 shikhars, and 9 pyramidal shikhars in the temple complex.

Every bit of the United Sates’ largest BAPS Swaminarayan Temple design is eloquent enough to tell a story. A whopping 10,000 sculptures and figurines of India’s age-old musical instruments, classical dance forms, and epic characters on pillars, panels, walls and ceilings depict stories of ancient Bharat and the Hindu scriptures. The prayer halls are dotted with life-size idols of saints and sages among India’s spiritual leaders.

An interface between the architectural styles of north and south Indian temples, the Akshardham Mandir of Robbinsville NJ houses a world-class research institute. Inaugurated in June 2022, the institute is “the first such center of learning and research of Indian languages and Hindu scriptures in the Swaminarayan tradition in the United States”, with the goal of promoting the highest level of academic excellence in all disciplines of study. The other facilities available within the temple complex include a rest house, a food court, and a visitors’ center housing exhibits related to Indian culture as well as history.

Ornate dome in the ceiling of the grand prayer hall (PC: BAPS.org)

Like many ancient temples across India, the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir has Brahma Kund (a sacred stepwell) at its Robbinsville site in the northeast US. Interestingly, the water of the kund has been collected from more than 300 natural sources of water from around the world, including the holy rivers of India and the water bodies in 50 US states.

A one hour drive from Newark, this largest Hindu temple in the US would not have become a reality without the craftsmen and 13000 volunteers of all ages, who generously spent 5 million man hours on making such a complex, colossal masterpiece. Indians from New Jersey and other states came forward to devote their time in all possible ways, including preparing food for the artisans, cleaning up the construction site, etc. Evidently, the temple is an emblem of oneness and harmony among them. On completion of the construction, the total cost of Robbinsville BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, New Jersey may have gone up to more than $150 million.

This article is a part of the series – Hidden Gems of America – by Indian Eagle, a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians in the USA. Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, is a one-stop portal for stories of Indian immigrants, US-India travel news, and US visa & immigration updates.

The post Built over 185 Acres for more than $150M, World’s Largest Akshardham Temple in USA to Open in October appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.