welcome to mjventertainment.blogspot.com......Indians throng temple to crack Trump's visa curbs By AFP Issued on 29-04-2017 Modified 29-04-2017 to 16:40 media Indian Hindu devotees offer prayers to Lord Balaji, known as the 'Visa God', at the Chilkur Balaji Temple in southern India AFP Hundreds of Indians gather daily at a 500-year-old Hindu temple in southern India where they pray for a single wish -- an increasingly elusive US visa. The Chilkur Balaji temple dedicated to Lord Balaji -- a re-incarnation of Hindu god Vishnu -- on the outskirts of Hyderabad city, has long been a one-stop solution for prospective Indian immigrants seeking US visas, earning it the sobriquet of 'visa temple'. But temple officials say the place has seen an increase in visitors since the election of US President Donald Trump, who this month signed an order seeking to reform the "H-1B" work visa system. The "H-1B" visas are highly sought after by aspiring Indian immigrants but Trump's push to make the permits available only to the most-skilled or highest-paid applicants has many worried. Software engineer Shreekanth Angirekula was among the fortunate ones, having recently secured a US visa after repeated rejections. "It's a miracle. I couldn't get a visa for the last two years but after visiting the temple everything went off smoothly," Angirekula, 33, told AFP. "I am not superstitious but there was definitely divine intervention," he said. More than 100,000 devotees visit the temple every week, for visas and other reasons. They proffer their passports and a flower before the deity as they circumambulate the inner sanctum of the temple 11 times while chanting Hindu hymns. Once the wish is granted, worshippers must return to make 108 rounds of the sanctum. Chief priest Ranga Rajan said devotees come from across the country in pursuit of visas. "Same passport, same documents, same embassy and same applicant, but their visas were rejected before coming to the Lord," Rajan told AFP. "It's all Balaji's blessings," he said, adding "it's not superstition but spiritualism". The temple's supposedly magical powers gained repute in the 1980s after a group of engineers visited the temple to pray for visas. They were all granted their wish, and soon, hordes of aspirants followed in their wake. "I have applied for the visa for (my) studies and I hope Balaji will make it happen," student Raja Shekhar Reddy told AFP. "This visit has boosted my confidence," he said. inShare News videos : French Election: Abstention, Anger & Apathy video playing French Election: Abstention, Anger & Apathy Trump's First 100 Days, The Pope in Egypt (part... Trump's First 100 Days, The Pope in Egypt (part 2) Macron vs. Le Pen: France's bitter... Macron vs. Le Pen: France's bitter presidential run-off race (part 1) The booming business of cannabis in Spain The booming business of cannabis in Spain Pope Francis: "It is through education that... Pope Francis: "It is through education that man can transcend himself" The 51% - The Afghan women defying... The 51% - The Afghan women defying tradition by seeking divorce Video Smart Player invented by Digiteka 1234567 Sport 29/04/2017SportFootballEngland Late Bournemouth goal condemns Sunderland to second division 29/04/2017SportFootballGermany Leipzig draw opens door for another Bayern title 29/04/2017SportFootballItaly Atalanta draw edges Juventus closer to the Italian title Press reviews 29/04/2017 African press review 29 April 2017 29/04/2017 French press review 29 April 2017 AFP Egypt urges US to play 'active' Mideast peace role US rider Young dies of injuries from race crash Tunisian officials sacked after protests Champs Elysees attacker's father 'threatens' police Sunderland relegated, Vardy makes Leicester safe Sunderland's 10-year Premier League stay ends 24 dead in Kyrgyz landslide: emergencies ministry Pope in Egypt rejects fanaticism, urges charity Cosplay with hijabs showcased in Malaysia Thiem beats Murray to make Barcelona final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Facebook