Personal Narrative: The Balaji Temple

Diversity is a multifaceted concept that when recognized by everyone creates hope. It is also informative because it permits people to have different thoughts and opinions on religion and culture. The only way to comprehend other religions is for a person to inform themselves. Knowledge is power, with this knowledge we can make better decisions and also achieve more because of the ability to understand people from different cultures. I attended the Hindu Temple of Atlanta, located in Riverdale, Georgia. Upon arrival, I noticed the beautiful, intricate architecture of the white building. This building is a replica of a traditional Hindu Temple in Southern India, built by artisans from India. This location has two different temples, the Balaji Temple, …show more content…
After that ceremony, I went back to the Balaji Temple and waited for Balaji Abhishekam to start. While I waited, I viewed several devotees enter into the temple and lie face down on the floor and say their prayers to several deities silently. When the service began, the priest invited me into a small sanctuary, roped off on each side, forming a clear path to the deity Sri Venkateswara. The priest began the service by walking up to each person carrying a tray with four cups, the cups had kumkuma, haldi, milk, and water in them. He approached each Hindu person and seemed to ask them questions, I assume he asked them their prayer requests, they would respond and then he would chant. Afterward, he went up to the deity and begin chanting and dropping small portions of the four items from the tray onto the image of the deity for an offering, the priest also offered bananas, apples, and mango. He chanted for approximately fifteen minutes, then he performed prasadam, the blessing to the devotees from the god. First, he approached each person and presented the sacramental lamp, the devotees passed their hands over the flame and then brought their