They say God comes in all forms. Well, if these unique temples are anything to go by, he certainly does! Not only are the devotees worshiping one-of-a-kind gods, the rituals they follow are also unheard of.

Om Banna Shrine (Jodhpur)

The inhabitants of a small village in the Pali district of Rajasthan have taken the love for their motorcycles a notch higher. It has a shrine where the deity is a Royal Enfield 350cc. Wonder how much pride the motorcycle brand must take!

Karni Mata Temple (Bikaner)

Holy Rats! No really, that’s what this temple is about. In the main shrine, the image of the goddess is placed with holy things at her feet. Surrounded by rats, Karni Mata is holding a trishul (trident) in one of her hands. The temple has around 20,000 rats that are fed, protected and worshipped. It is regarded auspicious, if a rat (kaba) runs across one’s feet.

Chinese Kali Temple (Kolkata)

If you enter this temple, you would find that there is nothing different about the Kali idol. But one look at the ‘bhog’ and you realize this isn’t just any Kali temple. The bhog at this temple is noodles, chopsuey, rice-and-vegetables dishes – a symbol of cultural harmony and communion.

Kal Bhairav Temple(Ujjain)

Addiction to alcohol may be harmful to human health, but what is it to a god? The Kal Bhairav deity in this Ujjain temple loves the liquor that the devotees pamper him with.

Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara (Jalandhar)

Hundreds of devotees regularly travel to the Sant Baba Nihal Gurudwara and undertake this bizzare ritual of offering toy planes to the gods in the hopes of getting a Visa. No surprise that the shrine is now popularly known as ‘Hawaijahaj’ (aeroplane) gurudwara.

Brahma Baba Temple (Kurukshetra)

To pay tributes at the Ghariwale Baba temple, the devotees have to bring wall clocks as offerings. Each day hundreds of devotees queue in front of the temple holding wall clocks in their hands. It is believed that people offering clocks always have their wishes fulfilled.

Sachin Tendulkar Temple(Bihar)

What else can you except in a country where cricket is a religion? This temple in Bihar has been dedicated to the god of cricket- Sachin Tendulkar. The temple provides an opportunity to the lovers of cricket from around the world to pay their respects to this living legend.

Kotilingeshwar Temple (Kolar)

The Temple is known to have the biggest Shiva Linga in the world, measuring 108 ft (33 m), surrounded by numerous small Shivalingams which spread over an area of 15 acres. Devotees can offer their prayers to Lord Kotilingeshwara by installing Lingas- the name of the devotees are carved on the Lingas.

Chhavi Mahajan