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Nairobi 4 - Temple visit

Made an impromtu drive to the near by Sri Kalyana Venkateswara Temple on the vijaya dhasami day. Near expected it to thronged by a vast Indian population. Took uber to reach the 4km destination.  Just like in uber app picks up the next while still the last leg of the current one. 

Just few meters before we could reach the temple there was traffic congestion due to vehicles coming out of the temple. Losing patience we decided to walk up the slope to reach the temple.  No wonder the path sloped up, Perumal always stays abode. Happy to see many south Indians ladies in the traditional silk saree in the temple compound. This is called SSDS complex.

Perumal's sanctum is a floor above the ground and the gopuram was shining in festival lighting. After you walk up the stairs, you can see the sanctum where the Lord Venkateswara gives you darshan along with Sridevi and Boodevi, that's why he is Kalyana Venkateswara in Nairobi. Navaratri has been celebrated here in the traditional way with Bharathanatiyam each day. Deepawali too is expected to ring in the same way.

From here were had a way to reach the first floor of the adjacent SaiBaba temple.  This was a huge prayer hall surrounded by all God and Goddesses from Krishna,  Santoshi Maa, Shiva, Rama, Hanuman to navagraha. Sweet boondi was offered as prasad. Once you come down from this can Indian restaurant buzzing with people.



Beyond this was a open ground which now had various stalls around,  giving a fare look. Now this was looking like a little India. Aroma from chats filled the air.  Toy shops for kids,  firecrackers in full swing and raffle announcements on speakers. Oh man, where are we? :)
We had heart filling ( more than stomach filling ) chats - pani purim sev puri, dhahi puri and pav baji for 1000 shilling at one of the food stall. It was fresh and nothing short of what we would get in Mumbai. Where we go we take our taste buds along,  don't we. It was pure joy to having witnessed this today from spirituality to gastronomy.

Proud to know as Indian we hold to our culture and bhakthi and to establish them where ever we are. 

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Location: Nairobi, Kenya

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