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20,000 Rats Temple In India That I Visited Despite My Hygiene Worries
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20,000 Rats Temple In India That I Visited Despite My Hygiene Worries

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There is a little town deep in India’s Thar desert, called Deshnoke. I was around as I was exploring the desert area of Rajasthan with many different traditions, comparing to what I was expecting. The agricultural life, the difficulties of this arid area and the remote access there, are a combination that made those people and especially this trip different.

India’s diversity is unique. There are so many different and strange things about their tradition that you can never stop finding out interesting facts about India. When I read about that temple I organised the visit to it despite my hygiene worries. In Deshnoke near the rail lines, there is a little temple, dedicated to Karni Mata, a Hindu goddess that is worshiped especially in Rajasthan and people visit the temple from all over India. 20.000 holy rats called Kabbas live in the temple. According to the folklore tradition, there are two stories about the rats – the one is that all of the children were born as rats and the other says that those 20.000 rats used to be soldiers.

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    In Deshnoke near the rail lines, there is a little temple dedicated to a Hindu goddess Karni Mata

    Before entering you have to take off your shoes. I had open wounds from trekking so I got the permission to enter wearing socks. Everybody was staring at me inside…

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    20 000 holy rats called Kabbas live in the temple

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    Some pilgrims drink the milk from their bowls

    According to the folklore tradition, there are two stories about the rats

    One is that all of the children were born as rats

    And the other says that those 20 000 rats used to be soldiers

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    I could find rat images are among the gods on the carvings of the door

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    Rats were everywhere

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    Offerings – rat food are sold outside of the temple

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    Nicolas Economou

    Nicolas Economou

    Author, Community member

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    Photographer - Filmmaker - Traveller

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    Nicolas Economou

    Nicolas Economou

    Author, Community member

    Photographer - Filmmaker - Traveller

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    SusanRiley
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do love rats, but I don't think I'd be taking my shoes off to enter that place. If I could keep them on, I'd go in for sure.

    eros007
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't think of a dirtier disease carrying beast to worship and to feed. Feed and take care of you fellow mankind. What a waste of time, energy that could have gone to help other humans with disease and poverty.

    MiyukiNohara
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well we are talking about a country where discrimination is based on "society castes" and those at the lower level are worthless discrimination murder and rape of dalit women are common and there is not justice for the victims because they are the lower class in society , very ridiculous but is part of Hindu people culture.

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    karenza
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i truly believe in ahimsa, nonviolence to all beings, but find rats kind of creepy. the question is, does this make sense? have one place for rat communities, feed them, then they stay at their home, instead of entering ours. hmmmmmmmm

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    SusanRiley
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I do love rats, but I don't think I'd be taking my shoes off to enter that place. If I could keep them on, I'd go in for sure.

    eros007
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't think of a dirtier disease carrying beast to worship and to feed. Feed and take care of you fellow mankind. What a waste of time, energy that could have gone to help other humans with disease and poverty.

    MiyukiNohara
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    well we are talking about a country where discrimination is based on "society castes" and those at the lower level are worthless discrimination murder and rape of dalit women are common and there is not justice for the victims because they are the lower class in society , very ridiculous but is part of Hindu people culture.

    Load More Replies...
    karenza
    Community Member
    9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i truly believe in ahimsa, nonviolence to all beings, but find rats kind of creepy. the question is, does this make sense? have one place for rat communities, feed them, then they stay at their home, instead of entering ours. hmmmmmmmm

    Load More Comments
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