India is a country of diverse cultures and traditions. It has a rich history of unique places of worship, and every traveler who has visited this land of magnificence has bestowed it with names such as exotic, elegant, and extravagant. However, there are some lesser-known places of worship in the country famous for their strange traditions. In this article, we will take you on a journey of discovery to some of the most unusual places of worship in India that will leave you speechless.
Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, Kerala
Located in Kodungallur, Thrissur District, in Kerala, Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is the most unusual temple on this list. Devotees hurl abuses instead of praying to Goddess Bhadrakali, the more peaceful reincarnation of the Goddess Kali. Not just abuses and bizarre songs, but devotees carry swords and hit their own heads with them until there’s blood everywhere during the Bharani Festival. This festival takes place for seven days every year in the month of Meenam (during March and April).
The animal sacrifices that once were part of the festival in this temple are now banned, but the pilgrims still drink liquor and sing lewd songs, all the way from their villages to the shrine, as part of the ceremony.
Devaragattu Temple, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh, there is one temple called Devaragattu Temple, where every year on Dussehra night, hundreds of devotees go all equipped to kill or be killed. The ritual takes place at midnight when the procession of idols of the ruling deities Malamma (Parvati) and Malleshwara Swamy (Shiva) are brought down the hill temple at Neraneki.
The Vijayadashami festival is celebrated on a grand note every year at Devaragattu village in Kurnool district in the form of Banni festival, which draws huge crowds even from the neighboring states. The ritual in the region, once under the Vijayanagara Empire, is said to be centuries old. According to legends, Lord Shiva killed two demons, Mani and Mallasura, by hitting them with sticks.
Last year, at least 100 people were injured during a stick fight as part of the Banni festival at Devaragattu in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district. As many people suffered injuries during the ‘fight’, the administration had advised people to avoid the usage of sticks as a fighting tool. However, devotees preferred celebrating the festival in the traditional manner itself, resulting in injuries to several people who were either treated on the spot or shifted to hospitals.
Bullet Baba Temple, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
The Bullet Baba Temple, also known as Om Banna Dham, is located in Chotila village near Pali town, about 50 km from Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This unique temple is dedicated to a 350 cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle and is worshipped by people from all over the world.
The story behind the temple is that in 1988, a man named Om Banna was travelling on his Royal Enfield Bullet from Bangdi to Chotila when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a tree. He died instantly, and the motorcycle fell into a nearby ditch.
The police later took the motorcycle to a nearby police station, but it mysteriously disappeared and was found back at the accident site. This happened several times, and the locals began to believe that the motorcycle was possessed by the spirit of Om Banna. As a result, a temple was constructed on the site, and the motorcycle was placed inside as a holy object of worship.
Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara, Jalandhar
The Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara in Jalandhar, located in the Talhan village of Punjab, is known for its unique tradition of offering toy airplanes to get visas for foreign travel. This 150-year-old Gurudwara is popularly called the ‘Hawaijahaj’ or “Aeroplane” Gurudwara due to the huge model aircraft on its top.
It is believed that if you are struggling to get a visa or passport to travel abroad, visiting this Gurudwara and offering prayers along with toy airplanes can help fulfill your wish.
However, since 2006, the Gurudwara has been managed by the government due to a dispute between the Jat and Dalit communities, both of which wanted full control.
Amitabh Bachchan Temple, Kolkata
If you are a die-hard fan of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, then you must visit the Amitabh Bachchan Temple in Tiljala, Kolkata. This temple has a life-size statue of Big B installed inside it, which was unveiled by the All Bengal Amitabh Bachchan Fans’ Association in 2017. The six-foot-two-inch fibreglass statue of Big B’s character Subhash Nagre is not only visually appealing but also one of the most sincere attempts to honour the veteran actor. You can find the temple by looking for a huge banner with the words “Jai Amitabh Bachchan” at the entrance.
Chinese Kali Temple, Kolkata
The Chinese Kali Temple in Kolkata’s Tangra area is a unique attraction that blends Tibetan and East Asian culture. The temple looks like any other Goddess Kali temple in India, but the prasad offerings here are different. Priests offer noodles, chop suey, sticky rice, and various other dishes to the worshippers. The Bengali priest worships the Goddess, and handmade papers are burnt here to keep evil spirits away. During Diwali, tall candles are lit here with Chinese incense sticks, which gives the temple a distinctive aroma compared to other Hindu temples in the country.
Kal Bhairav Nath Temple, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
The Kal Bhairav Nath Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, is believed to be built by King Bhadrasen on the banks of Shipra River. The temple is famous for its deity, who is said to swallow gallons of liquor as prasad, which is the only offering given to its beloved devotees. Thousands of devotees come to the temple bearing bottles of liquor as offerings, and you can always find liquor available outside the temple 24×7, 365 days a year. The temple also has a deep stambh where devotees enlighten it with their wishes. The worship of Kal Bhairav is a part of the Shaivite tradition, mainly by the Kapalika and Aghora sects. The temple’s exquisite paintings in the Malwa style are also a striking feature.
Visa Balaji Temple, Telangana
The Visa Balaji Temple, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad in Chilkur, is believed to bless everyone who is in need of a visa to travel abroad. If you want to fulfil your wish to go abroad, you have to follow some rituals. You have to walk in a circle around the revered Chilkoor Balaji Temple 11 times, leave an offering of tulsi leaves at his feet, and perform 108 parikramas once your wish is fulfilled. This ritual is mandatory for visa applicants as well, and it is believed that Lord Venkateshwara blesses everyone who follows this age-old ritual at the Chilkur Temple.
