On Blessed Grounds

• Bokhari Baba Shrine, Kaipadar village, Orissa
  Letters to god float about the shrine, detailing wishes and dreams.

Dodda Ganeshana Gudi, Bangalore

• Dodda Ganeshana Gudi (The Bull Temple), Bangalore, Karnataka
  Wishes need no messenger or conduit, they are whispered right into the right ear of the Nandi idol here.
• Durga Temple, Uttar Pradesh
  A coconut and a wish; break the former at the temple grounds and the latter is granted.
• Ferozshsah Kotla, Delhi
  Confess to wrong deeds by writing letters to djinns, sticking coins to the walls of the mosque, offering milk, sweets, fruits, meat to appease ‘unhappy spirits’.

Gurudwara Rawalsar Sahib, Mandi, HP

• Gurudwara Rawalsar Sahib, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh
  A dip in the big tank and its waters that have medicinal value is considered auspicious.

Hanuman Temple in CP, Delhi

• Hanuman Temple, New Delhi
  Priests turn messengers, reading out wishes written down by devotees on paper to the wind-born one.

Hazratbal in Srinagar. (Photograph by AFP, From Outlook 13 January 2014)

• Hazratbal Shrine, Srinagar, Kashmir
  The sacred hair from the beard of Prophet Mohammed preserved here—a treasured relic—gives the shrine wish-granting rights, especially on Fridays.
• Jagan Mohini Keshava Swami Temple, Ryali, Andhra Pradesh
  Devotees turn to Ryali for wishes related to professional success and job transfers.
• Jatashankar Temple, Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
  Young girls looking for a match seek Lord Shiva’s blessings.
• Kali Maa Temple, Kanpur
  An offering of a ‘lock’ at this 500-year-old temple signifies ‘locking your wish’ at the doorstep of Goddess Kali.
• Kalpavriksha, Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh
  Home to a wish-granting tamarind tree located on the slope of Obuladevara Gutta hill.
• Karni Mata Temple, Bikaner
  Famous for its huge rat population, the act of rodent-spotting brings reward, and dreams come true.
• Khecheopalri Lake, Sikkim
  A dip in this lake, a part of the Buddhist pilgrimage, can fulfil a long-standing dream.
• Macchial Lake, Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh
  Feed the Mahseer fish, make a wish.
• Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar
  Mansa, meaning wish, has devotees tying threads to the branches of a temple tree.
• Mansar Lake, Jammu
  A holy lake for newly-weds to circumambulate for blessings.
• Mount Mary Church, Mumbai
  The miraculous healing powers of the Blessed Virgin Mary keep the legend alive.
• Nagore Dargah, Nagore town, Tamil Nadu
  Tin and silver facsimiles of things the heart desires, such as cars and houses, decorate it.
• Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi
  Red threads on its lattice are symbols of wishes prayed for.
• Our Lady of Merces Church, Colva, Goa
  A visit to the 400-year-old church auspicious for those seeking marriage and children.
• Puthugramam Viswanathaswami Temple, Chittoor, Kerala
  Meant for those with a specific desire to purchase a vehicle.
• Sayeed Ibrahim Badshah’s Shrine, Kurukshetra, Haryana
  Wall clocks offered here symbolise a wish to reach a destination on time.
• St Thomas Shrine, Malayattoor, Kerala
  Carrying heavy wooden crosses up the rocky slope could help in conceiving children and curing ailments.
• Tarapith, Birbhum district, West Bengal
  The temple town sees tantrik rites performed to specific requests from devotees.
• Trinetra Ganesha Temple, Ranthambore, Rajasthan
  Praying to Lord Ganesha at this fort ensures life-long comfort.
• Tomb of Hazrat Shamsuddin Ghazi, Osmanabad, Maharashtra
  The peaceful dargah attracts hundreds looking for reprieve.
• Varadvinayak Temple, Mahad village, Maharashtra
  Surrounded by eight elephant figures, the presiding Ganesh deity is said to grant wishes.

Compiled by: Stuti Agarwal and  Amrita Ghosh