Chilkur Balaji: The Indian Temple Granting Faithful Followers a Ticket to the American Dream

In India, while some deities are believed to grant wealth or luck, one particular god is sought after for a more tangible blessing: successful visa applications, particularly to the United States. The Chilkur Balaji temple, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad, attracts more than 1,000 Hindu devotees daily, all hoping for divine intervention in their journey to a new life abroad.

Worshippers at the temple pray for permission to travel, specifically to the U.S., and often return to give thanks if their prayers are answered. Satwika Kondadasula, a 22-year-old preparing to leave for New York to pursue her master’s degree, shared her experience. “Every single member of my family who is in the US has come here,” she said. While she acknowledges her own capabilities in securing a visa, she also credits her success to the deity, Balaji. “I got the visa because of my capability of course, but I have luck of god as well,” she added. “I definitely believe coming here really helped me out.”

Balaji, an incarnation of Vishnu, a major deity in Hinduism known for maintaining cosmic order, is revered in this temple not just for his divine presence but also for his supposed influence over international travel. The temple has not always been associated with visas. Its reputation as a “visa temple” developed over time, particularly after 1984 when the temple’s elderly priest, C.S. Gopalakrishna, experienced an unusual event. While performing a ritual by walking around the temple’s sanctum 11 times, water mysteriously appeared before a shrine to the god. This event attracted attention, and soon, people began visiting the temple to pray for various wishes, including successful marriages, healthy children, and admission to prestigious Indian universities.

Over time, the temple became known for helping those seeking opportunities abroad, especially in the United States. The ritual practiced by the pilgrims involves walking around the temple’s sanctum 11 times, mimicking Gopalakrishna’s original circuit. If their prayers are fulfilled, devotees return to complete another 108 laps as a sign of gratitude. The practice is precise, with visitors chanting Balaji’s name in unison and using yellow sheets of paper marked with numbered boxes to keep track of their laps.

Despite the temple’s reputation, Gopalakrishna emphasizes that divine help is not guaranteed. “You should work hard,” he told AFP, reinforcing the idea that effort is essential alongside faith. “Balaji will help if you have blind belief in him,” he added.

India, now the world’s fifth-largest economy, continues to see a significant number of its citizens seeking better opportunities abroad, particularly in the United States. Despite India’s rapid economic growth, the allure of the American Dream remains strong. The most recent U.S. census showed a 50% increase in the Indian-origin population, reaching 4.8 million by 2020. Additionally, over a third of the nearly 1.3 million Indian students studying abroad in 2022 chose the United States as their destination.

Visa consultant Sakshi Sawhney, who assists Indians with the often complex process of obtaining travel permits to Western countries, acknowledges that “America is still the dream land.” This sentiment, she believes, is unlikely to change anytime soon. Sawhney, who once lived in the U.S. before returning to India to help others navigate the visa process, revealed that she had visited the Balaji temple herself while waiting for her own visa. Although she doesn’t explicitly advise her clients to visit the temple, many of them do so on their own initiative.

The upcoming U.S. presidential elections have brought attention to the achievements of Indian-origin Americans. Notably, the mother of Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris was born in Chennai, India, before moving to the United States to pursue her master’s degree at Berkeley. Similarly, Usha Vance, the wife of Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick, was born in San Diego to Indian immigrant parents with roots near the Chilkur Balaji temple.

For many, the successes of Indian-origin individuals in the U.S. serve as inspiration. “It is a great, inspiring moment. Indians are moving around the world and they are in better positions right now,” said Ajay Kumar, another devotee at the temple. Kumar, 25, recently returned to the temple to give thanks to Balaji, filled with excitement about his upcoming move to Tampa Bay, Florida, where he will work as a chef. “America is the place where all my dreams will be fulfilled,” he said.

The Chilkur Balaji temple stands as a symbol of hope for many Indians aspiring to a better life abroad. Whether it’s through hard work, faith, or a combination of both, the temple offers a unique blend of spirituality and aspiration, making it a significant cultural and religious site for those seeking new opportunities far from home.