ISKCON New Delhi

Most tourist and religious places in Delhi don't mess around with security, which I don't mind at all.  I'd rather be patted down and have my bag thoroughly searched rather than be more vulnerable to crazy people who want to bomb everything and everyone.  The ISKCON temple was no exception.

Men and women have separate search lines, where the women are taken behind a curtain to be patted down and searched.  I was even asked to demonstrate that my camera was an actual functioning camera.  Chris had his pocket knife confiscated, obviously.  He forgot he had it in his pack.  Why did he bring a pocket knife to India, you may ask; in case we needed to peel and cut fruit, cut off tags, etc.  We packed it in the checked luggage while flying.  We thought for sure the knife was a goner, but on the way out of the complex he stopped in at security and they actually gave it back to him.

The main area overlooks this statue of Krishna and the serpent Kaliya.  The story is that Kaliya made its home in the Yamuna and because it was poisonous all the fish died.  The vegetation along the river died as well, along with any birds that flew over the water.  Krishna jumped in the Yamuna, the serpent grabbed hold of him, Krishna made his body grow so that Kaliya had to release him.  Krishna then jumped on the serpent's many heads and began dancing and eventually Kaliya left and never returned.

There were quite a few people inside the temple waiting for the deity doors to open.  A security guard appeared and gated off an area between the main altar and the people.  I thought this was interesting... perhaps there has been issues of people getting too close to the deities?  Finally the doors opened and everyone crowded forward, offering obeisances and garlands and taking photos.

Modes of transportation in the temple parking lot.