Top 15 Religious Places In India

• Golden Temple: Golden temple, which is popularly known as Harmindar Sahib or Sri Durbar Sahib is the popular holy shrine of Sikhs, located in Amritsar, Punjab,India. The temple is named after the god Hari. It is the revered and cultural center of Sikhs. This vital Sikh shrine magnetizes more tourists  than the Taj Mahal with more than 100,000 tourists per a day. A holy bath at Amritsar Golden temple is believed to purify the soul of the devotees.
  
  


• Badrinath Temple: Badrinath Temple is also known as Badrinarayan temple, situated along the Alaknanda River, in the hill town of Badrinath, Uttarakhand in India. The temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu and is extensively considered to be one of the holiest Hindu temples in India. The temple and town are also regarded as one of the four Char Dham and Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites. It is one of the five associated shrines called as Panch Badri and also one of the 108 Divya Desams, holy shrines for Vaishnavites.
  
  


• Kedarnath Temple:  Kedarnath temple is one of the holiest Hindu temples devoted to Lord Shiva and also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. It is located near the Mandakini River at the Garhwal Himalayan range near in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand in India. The temple is open only between the ends of April to Kartik Purnima  due to the extreme weather conditions of the place.
  
   
• Tirupathi/Tirumala:  The revered and one of the prehistoric temples of Sri Venkateshwara is nestled in the verdant Eastern Ghats - a mountain range that runs along south-eastern India. These hills are called as Tirumala Hills and are 3200 feet above the sea level. Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala is considered as the world’s richest temple in with an estimated annual income of over 300 crores.
  
  
• Srisailam: Srisailam is a popular pilgrimage centre known for the abode of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvathi in the form of Lord Mallikarjuna and Goddess Brahmarambika. The temple of Sri Mallikarjuna and Brahmarambika in Srisailam is considered revered and must-visit after the temple of Lord Venkateshwara in Tirupati. Over years the popularity of this place has increased so much that Srisailam has gained recognition all over India.
  
  
  
• Murudeshwara Temple: The Murudeshwar temple situated atop a small hill called Kanduka Giri is a major tourist attraction. A huge towering idol of Lord Shiva, visible from great distances in Murudeshwar is a sight worth remembering forever. The statue is 123 feet (37 m) in height, which took about 2 years to build. The idol is designed such that the sun s rays fall
  directly on its face.
  
  
• Mecca Masjid: Mecca Masjid is a magnificent building with a main hall that is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long. It can accommodate about ten thousand worshippers at a single go. Fifteen graceful arches support the roof of the main hall, five on each of the three sides.
• Kali Temple - Kali ghat: Kali temple is devoted to Hindu Goddess Kalika and is one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations of India. The Kali Temple (originally a small hut), was built in 1809 by Raja Basanta Roy of the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury clan - who offered 595 bighas of land to the Temple deity.
  
  
• Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple: Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple at Syanandoora or today’s Thiruvananthapuram has shed its radiance in continuous flow down the annals of oral tradition and written history. Its evolution reflects the social, historic and sacred growth of the region over which its influence was felt, which often extended to territories lying well inside present Southern Tamil Nadu. Ranking among the best known temples in Kerala, this shrine retains its position as the most important in Travancore standing in majestic splendor in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala.
  
  
• Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple: Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple is also known as Keshava Deo or Keshava Dev Temple. It is the most sought after religious centers in Mathura city. Its prevalence compared to other holy spots is because of the belief that the temple stands on the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Krishna was born to Vasudeva and Devaki in the prison.
• Meenakshi Amman Temple: Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the most popular Hindu Pilgrimage places, located in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is also known as Sundareswarar (Beautiful God) along with his wife Parvati who is also known as Meenakshi. The Temple was first built 2000 years ago and then expanded substantially during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak in the years 1623- 1655 A.D.
• Medak Church: Made of solid white granite Medak Church stands at 173 feet tall. The church, the single largest diocese in Asia and the second largest in the world after the Vatican is built in solid white granite. Medak Church was constructed between 1914 and 1924 and Thomas Edward Harding who is an architect put in all his best efforts building the cathedral.
   
  
• Shirdi Sai baba Temple - Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba: The Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was constructed by a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao. It is believed that he wanted to enshrine an idol of Murlidhar there but Sai Baba manifested himself as Murlidhar and the temple became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba.
• Vaishno Devi Temple: Mata Vaishno devi Temple – a cave shrine dedicated to the Hindu Mythological Goddess ‘Shakti’ – the All-Supreme Goddess of creative power. Most Hindu traditions believe that the Vaishno Devi Temple is the holiest of all the ‘Shakti peetas’ – places of devotion dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Vaishno Devi Temple is also the second most visited temple in India after the Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple in Andhra Pradesh.
• Amarnath Yatra: The toughest Yatra of them all – the Amarnath Yatra – the Hindu Annual Pilgrimage of Lord ‘Shiva Linga’ is here, beckoning all the strong-willed on a spiritual journey all the way up to13,000 feet altitude to the 130-foot high Amarnath Cave where the ice Shiva Linga naturally forms every year. Amarnath Yatra is open for 37 days this year between 25 June and 2 August. Registrations – online and over the counter are open. On-spot registrations are also possible.
  
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Lakshmi Puja on Diwali

The third day of Diwali festival is the most important one for Lakshmi-puja and is entirely devoted to the propitiation of Goddess Lakshmi. On this very day sun enters his second course and passes Libra which is represented by the balance or scale. Hence, this design of Libra is believed to have suggested the balancing of account books and their closing. Despite the fact that this day falls on an amavasya day it is regarded as the most auspicious.

The day of Lakshmi-Puja falls on the dark night of Amavasya. The strains of joyous sounds of bells and drums float from the temples as man is invoking Goddess Laxmi in a wondrous holy "pouring-in" of his heart. All of a sudden that impenetrable darkness is pierced by innumerable rays of light for just a moment and the next moment a blaze of light descends down to earth from heaven as golden-footed Deep-Lakshmi alights on earth in all her celestial glory amidst chantings of Vedic hymns. 

A sublime light of knowledge dawns upon humanity and this self enlightenment is expressed through the twinkling lamps that illuminate the palaces of thewealthy as well as the lowly abodes of the poor. It is believed that on this day Lakshmi walks through the green fields and loiters through the bye-lanes and showers her blessings on man for plenty and prosperity. 

Lakshmi Pooja, or the worship of the goddess of wealth, is the main event on Diwali in North and West India. It is extremely important to keep the house spotlessly clean and pure on Diwali. Goddess Lakshmi likes cleanliness, and she will visit the cleanest house first. This is also the reason why the broom is worshiped on this day with offerings of haldi and kumkum (turmeric and vermilion). Lamps are lit in the evening to welcome the goddess. They are believed to light up Her path. 

Lakshmi Puja consists of a combined puja of five deities: Ganesha is worshiped at the beginning of every auspicious act as Vighnaharta; Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped in her three forms - Mahalakshmi (the goddess of wealth and money), Mahasaraswati (the goddess of books and learning), and Mahakali; Kuber (the treasurer of the gods) is also worshiped.


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Diwali celebrations in India

"Diwali" is another name of "Deepavali", which is known as "Row ofLights". This festival is also called the "Festival of Lights". Diwali is the name for the festival in North-India. In South-India the festival is called "Deepavali". It celebrates to success of the Good over the good and Light over Darkness. It is a  significant festival  for Hindus, Sikhs and Jains alike in India. The day of Diwali falls on Ashvina Amavasya  on 15 Ashvin (Hindu month),  the festival of lights which is celebrated by Indians with great Zeal and enthusiasm. In 2012 it will be celebrated on 13th November.

 

This is 5 days festival. On the first day people worshipped to Goddess Laxmi for success and wealth. The second day (Choti Diwali) is also known as 'Small Diwali', 'Naraka Chaturdashi' or 'Kali Chaudas' in some states. As per  the legend, Lord Kirshna killed the evil daemon Narakasura on this day. People worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Rama. The third day is the real day of Diwali. Many devotees visit their Temples for praying  Lakshmi, Goddess of beauty, prosperity and wealth with Laxmi Poojas and also pray to Ganesh, the 'Lord of Beginnings' and 'Remover of Obstacles'. When Aarti is performed, oil lamps with a cotton wick are placed on a Puja Thali and offered to the deities, praising the deity by singing wonderful Aarti songs.

At night people light up little oil lamps called Diyas, Dipa Lights and place them around their houses. They hang colorful lanterns and fairy lights, enjoying firework displays or blasting fire crackers. On forth day (Padwa) is 1^st of  Kartika masam in the Hindu calendar . Finally the 5^th  and last day of Diwali is called 'Bhaiduj' ('Bhai Dooj') also known as 'Yama Dwitiya'. This is the day for brothers and sisters to support their relationships. Just like Yami prayed for her brother Yama (God of Death), sisters are praying for their brother's well-being on this day, and brothers give little gifts to their sisters in return. On this day people prepare different types of recipes and sweets and they distributed to everyone.

Maha Navami

Mahanavami is the 9nth day of Durga Navaratri Festival. Maha Navami starts with Mahasnan and Shodashopachar Puja. Maha Navami celebrated in the month of  Ashwiyuja sukla paksha Navami. This is the most important Hindu festival in India. Maha Navami is celebrated on Tuesday, 23rd October, 2012.

It is believed that Goddess Durga is adored as Mahishasura Mardini on Maha Navami. It is called as Maha Navami, On this day Mahishasura was killed by Goddess Durga and got the name Mahishasura Mardini. On this day Navami Homa is performed by the people and it is the important  ritual during Durga Puja. The best time to perform Homa is at the end of Navami Puja.

The rituals associated with Navratri Maha Navami different  from region to region. In South India, Maha Navami is celebrated as Ayudha Puja. All books, utensils and tools are kept for puja.

Maha Navami rituals are the final rituals associated with Durga Puja. The next day is Durga Murti immersed in to river. A major bhog is held on the day and Prasad is offered to Goddess Durga. Food items prepared on the day is shared by devotees.

In some places, animal sacrifice is held on the day. But it is still held in rural regions and famous Durga Mata and Kali MataTemple.

In some places in India, worshipping of girls is done called Kanya Puja. On Maha Navami Goddess Durga is worshipped as Aparajita Devi which means the one that can never by defeated. Also Sugar cane stalks are offered to Goddess Aparajita Devi on Maha Navami.