The Doaba region of Punjab- a state in northern India- is known to have a very high number of families with relatives living in countries such as the United States, UK, Canada and Australia.
Their hard-earned dollars have brought prosperity to their families, transforming villages into an oasis of luxury in what was once an agrarian hinterland.
The remittance fuelled-prosperity has, in turn, prompted the urge of migrating to the western world to other regions of the state as well.
But, to say that there is actually a temple that has reputation for fulfilling the wishes of those dreaming of settling abroad, would perhaps sound facetious. However, it’s true.
Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara (a Sikh temple) in Jalandhar is the focal point for those seeking greener pastures abroad who believe that offering a toy plane here will answer their wishes.
So much so that people come here with miniature airplanes place them inside the Gurudwara which has earned the shrine the moniker of Jahaz Wala Gurudwara (airplane temple).
Toy planes offered at the Sikh temple in Jalandhar. Source: Facebook
Though, the management seeks to dispel the belief as a superstition.
“We don’t know how it started. We don’t support superstitions. But we can’t stop people from doing it. We can just guide them, but if someone believes in such things, let it be,” temple manager Balvir Singh told PTI.
This is not the only place in India where visa seekers believe divine intervention will get them on a plane to the land of their dreams.
Chamatkari Sri Hanumanji Temple in Ahmedabad in Gujarat is also very well known among prospective migrants.
Unlike the Sikh temple in Punjab, this temple does encourage people to pay obeisance at the temple before commencing work for the visa.
“Does any of your relatives, friends or acquaintances in India wishes to go to Canada, USA, Australia, England or any other country? Are they facing difficulties in getting Visa? Do they find themselves making innumerable visits to the Visa office without any result?
“There is only one place that you must visit i.e. “Chamatkarik Shri Hanumanji Na Charan,” says the website of the temple in Ahmedabad city in Gujarat.
Roopang Mehta, a trustee of the temple told SBS Punjabi that the belief took hold in 2003-04 when a woman prayed in the temple for her son's US visa.
Chamatkari Shri Hanumanji Temple, Ahmedabad Source: Hanumanji Temple
"She spoke to a few people and then three-four more people got visas after offering prayers at the temple. Currently we get 10-15 people every day, but there's a heavy rush for prayers for visas on Tuesdays and Saturdays," he told SBS Punjabi.
Like Punjab, many residents of Gujarat have settled abroad.
The website boasts of the miraculous powers of the deity dates back to India’s pre-independence era.
“It is known that during the time of British Raj in India, when the rules and regulations for acquiring visa for USA and England were already very strict, the Diety of Shri Hanuman Dada started to show its miracle and power,” the website reads.
Another temple believed to fulfil the visa dreams is Chilkur Balaji Temple of Hyderabad in the southern state of Telangana.
Devotees at Chilkur Balaji Temple, Hyderabad Source: Chilkur Balaji Temple
One of the oldest temples in Hyderabad, is famed for its popularity as Visa God.
The temple is said to be about 500 years old. A wish-making ceremony here involves 11 laps around the temple holding the passport. If the wish for a visa comes true, the worshipper must return and complete 108 laps around the temple.
