More sightseeing today! To be more specific, the Balaji Mandir temple in the outskirts of Pune.
A bit more on religion in India:
~78% of the population in India practice Hinduism.
~14% practice Islam.
The remaining ~8% are comprised of other religions/groups, such as Christianity.
The Balaji temple we visited is a Hindu temple. Balaji is in fact another term for Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Vishnu, along with Shiva and Brahma, compose the Trimurti (the great trinity of deities in Hinduism). As mentioned in a previous post on Elephanta Island, Shiva is the Destroyer. Brahma is the Creator, and Vishnu is the Preserver.
Next: DMH Hospital!
A bit more on religion in India:
~78% of the population in India practice Hinduism.
~14% practice Islam.
The remaining ~8% are comprised of other religions/groups, such as Christianity.
The Balaji temple we visited is a Hindu temple. Balaji is in fact another term for Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Vishnu, along with Shiva and Brahma, compose the Trimurti (the great trinity of deities in Hinduism). As mentioned in a previous post on Elephanta Island, Shiva is the Destroyer. Brahma is the Creator, and Vishnu is the Preserver.
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| An overlook we stopped by to take pictures. |
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| The entrance to the temple. |
Unfortunately, the temple forbids photography in the interior (which is a shame, because the inside is absolutely beautiful). The temple also requires that one must go in barefoot. Basically, the people entering follow a path from which they can pray to various statues in multiple shrines. After exiting the temple some free sweets are given to visitors to eat.
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| Sai really liked to run up to the camera. |
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| Delicious, delicious, bhutta. |
Those delicious specimens you see above are known as Bhutta: roasted corn on the cob with salt, pepper, lime juice and chili chutney. There are literally hundreds of mobile bhutta food carts in both the rural and urban parts of Pune. For less than 1 USD, they are absolutely sublime.
Next: DMH Hospital!
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