Karni Devel temple and the holy rats |
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This exotic temple is covered by a metallic net to avoid the predator birds of the desert to attack its holy inhabitants: thousands of rats!
These rats are especially ugly, with 30 centimetres grey tail and long moustaches. But they are harmless and will not bite you because eat a lot and are all fat.
The Brahman caste monks take care of them and feed them with cheese and milk of camel all the time, plus honey and jelly before going to sleep in their holes. They even play the harmonium to please them.
Every day thousands of Hindu pilgrims go to Karni Devel temple to worship them. They believe that in the rats reside the soul of a family of Rajputs, and will be sacred until they will reincarnate in humans.
When leaving, the monks asked me money to buy milk and honey to the rats. I refused, removed the playful baby rats introduced into my shoes and left to lovely walled city of Jaisalmer, the incredible marble temples of Mount Abu, and the most eccentric habits of the Jain.
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jorgesanchez 's travel tips |
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