CHENNAI, India (AP) — Arjun Viswanathan stood on the road, his arms folded, eyes mounted on the idol of the Hindu deity Ganesh.

On a damp morning, the data expertise skilled was ready outdoors the temple, the dimensions of a small closet – barely sufficient room for the lone priest to face and carry out puja or rituals for the beloved elephant-headed deity, believed to be the remover of obstacles.

Viswanathan was amongst a couple of dozen guests, most of them there for a similar goal: To supply prayers so their U.S. visa interviews would go easily and efficiently. Viswanathan got here the day earlier than his interview for an employment visa.

“I came here to pray for my brother’s U.K. visa 10 years ago and for my wife’s U.S. visa two years ago,” he mentioned. “They were both successful. So I have faith.”

The Sri Lakshmi Visa Ganapathy Temple is a number of miles north of the airport in Chennai (previously Madras), a bustling metropolis on the Coromandel Coast in southeast India — recognized for its iconic delicacies, historical temples and church buildings, silk saris, classical music, dance and sculptures.

This “visa temple” has surged in reputation amongst U.S. visa seekers over the previous decade; they are often present in virtually any Indian metropolis with a U.S. consulate. They usually achieve a following by means of phrase of mouth or social media.

A mile away from the Ganesh temple is the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Navaneetha Krishnan Temple, the place an idol of Hanuman – a deity who has a human physique and the face of a monkey — is believed to own the ability to safe visas. Also often known as “Anjaneya,” this god stands for energy, knowledge and devotion. In this temple, he has earned the monikers “America Anjaneya” and “Visa Anjaneya.”

The temple’s longtime secretary, G.C. Srinivasan, mentioned it wasn’t till 2016 that this temple turned a “visa temple.”

“It was around that time that a few people who prayed for a visa spread the word around that they were successful, and it’s continued,” he mentioned.

A month in the past, Srinivasan mentioned he met somebody who bought information of his visa approval at the same time as as he was circumambulating the Anjaneya idol — a typical Hindu apply of strolling round a sacred object or website.

On a latest Saturday night time, devotees adorned the idol with garlands product of betel leaves. S. Pradeep, who positioned a garland on the deity, mentioned he was not there to wish for a visa, however believes within the god’s distinctive energy.

“He is my favorite god,” he mentioned. “If you genuinely pray – not just for visa – it will come true.”

At the Ganesh temple, some devotees had success tales to share. Jyothi Bontha mentioned her visa interview on the U.S. Consulate in Chennai went with out a hitch, and that she had returned to supply thanks.

“They barely asked me a couple of questions,” she mentioned. “I was pleasantly surprised.”

Bontha’s pal, Phani Veeranki, stood close by, nervously clutching an envelope containing her visa utility and supporting paperwork. Bontha and Veeranki, each pc science college students from the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh and childhood associates, are headed to Ohio.

Both discovered concerning the visa temple on the social media platform Telegram.

Veeranki mentioned she was anxious as a result of she had so much using on her upcoming visa interview.

“I’m the first person in my family to go the United States,” she mentioned. “My mother is afraid to send me. But I’m excited for the opportunities I’ll have in America.”

Veeranki then handed over the envelope to the temple’s priest for him to put on the foot of the idol for a blessing.

“We’ve been hearing about applications being rejected,” she mentioned, her arms nonetheless folded in prayer. “I’m really hoping mine gets approved.”

If she and Bontha make it to Ohio, they need to make a journey to Niagara Falls.

“I’ve always wanted to see it,” Bontha mentioned.

Mohanbabu Jagannathan and his spouse, Sangeetha, run the temple, which Jagannathan’s grandfather in-built 1987. Their home is on a cul-de-sac, which is taken into account unhealthy luck in a number of Asian cultures. In Chennai, it’s common to discover a Ganesh temple outdoors cul-de-sac houses because of the perception that the deity has the ability to keep off evil. At first, solely neighbors got here to the temple, Jagannathan mentioned.

“But over the years it started earning a quirky reputation,” he mentioned. “A lot of visa applicants who came to the temple spread the word that they found success after praying here.”

In 2009, his father, Jagannathan Radhakrishnan, reconstructed the temple and added the phrase “visa” to the temple’s title. Jagannathan mentioned the success tales are heartwarming; guests generally cease by his house to thank his household for preserving the temple open.

“I’ve never been bothered by it,” Jagannathan mentioned. “We offer this as a service to the public. It’s a joy to see how happy people are when they come back and tell us they got their visa.”

His spouse mentioned she was touched by the story of a person who got here all the way in which from New Delhi to wish for a visa to see his grandchild after eight years aside. She remembers one other time when a lady referred to as her in tears, saying her visa utility was rejected.

“Sure, some don’t get it,” she mentioned. “God only knows why.”

Padma Kannan introduced her daughter, Monisha, who’s making ready to pursue a grasp’s diploma in advertising analytics in Clark University. Kannan believes her daughter bought her visa due to this highly effective deity.

“I found this temple on Google,” she mentioned. “I was so nervous for her, and so I prayed here.”

Monisha Kannan mentioned she just isn’t so positive she bought her visa due to this temple, however she mentioned she got here to assist her mother.

“I’m skeptical,” she mentioned. “I’m just someone who goes with the flow.”

Her mom takes a extra philosophical stance.

“We pray for our children and things happen easily for them,” she mentioned. “I think when they go through the rigors of life themselves, they will start believing in the power of prayer.”

Viswanathan mentioned he isn’t somebody “who usually believes in such things.” When his brother bought his British visa a decade in the past after providing prayers right here, Viswanathan chalked it as much as coincidence. He turned a believer when his spouse bought her U.S. visa two years in the past, he mentioned.

The day after he visited the temple this time, Viswanathan’s employment visa was authorized. He’ll head to New Hampshire in a number of months.

“It’s all about faith,” he mentioned. “If you believe it will happen, it will happen.”

___

Associated Press faith protection receives assist by means of the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely answerable for this content material.