Radha Krishna Temple in Kota - in pictures

  • Garima Govind Rao, with her friend, visits the Radha Krishna Temple in Kota, Rajasthan, north-western India, every evening. She believes the wishes on the temple walls come true and has written more than 10 to the deity. All photos: Taniya Dutta / The National
    Garima Govind Rao, with her friend, visits the Radha Krishna Temple in Kota, Rajasthan, north-western India, every evening. She believes the wishes on the temple walls come true and has written more than 10 to the deity. All photos: Taniya Dutta / The National
  • Messages on the 'wall of belief' at the Radha Krishna Temple include those asking for help with exams to open the doors to top universities
    Messages on the 'wall of belief' at the Radha Krishna Temple include those asking for help with exams to open the doors to top universities
  • Kota is known as India’s “coaching factory”, where thousands of centres prepare hundreds of thousands of aspiring medical and engineering students to take university entrance exams
    Kota is known as India’s “coaching factory”, where thousands of centres prepare hundreds of thousands of aspiring medical and engineering students to take university entrance exams
  • The messages illustrate the pressure many people feel as they sit exams in the hope of pursuing a prosperous career in a country with high unemployment
    The messages illustrate the pressure many people feel as they sit exams in the hope of pursuing a prosperous career in a country with high unemployment
  • 'This temple is the epicentre of the students’ faith,' says priest Dharmendra Acharya
    'This temple is the epicentre of the students’ faith,' says priest Dharmendra Acharya
  • People write on the windows, the walls and even the ceilings of the Radha Krishna Temple
    People write on the windows, the walls and even the ceilings of the Radha Krishna Temple
  • The wishes are not all about achieving exam success
    The wishes are not all about achieving exam success
  • The Radha Krishna Temple was built in 1992 and soon became a hot spot for students in Kota seeking help and comfort
    The Radha Krishna Temple was built in 1992 and soon became a hot spot for students in Kota seeking help and comfort
  • Large numbers of students visit the temple in Kota every day
    Large numbers of students visit the temple in Kota every day
  • The trend to leave messages started in the late 1990s and soon became a ritual
    The trend to leave messages started in the late 1990s and soon became a ritual
  • Once the doors of the temple open, students rush inside with a pen and write their messages
    Once the doors of the temple open, students rush inside with a pen and write their messages
  • The temple walls have to be repainted every two weeks to allow enough space for students to write down their wishes
    The temple walls have to be repainted every two weeks to allow enough space for students to write down their wishes
  • Many messages on the temple walls are pleas for personal success, but some are dedicated to siblings and friends who are also preparing for entrance exams
    Many messages on the temple walls are pleas for personal success, but some are dedicated to siblings and friends who are also preparing for entrance exams
  • The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna and his consort Radha
    The temple is dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna and his consort Radha
  • Among the messages are pleas to win a place at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and for help with entrance exams to study medicine
    Among the messages are pleas to win a place at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and for help with entrance exams to study medicine
  • Some students gather outside temple during lunch breaks or in the evenings after leaving a coaching centre, where they can study for up to six hours at a time
    Some students gather outside temple during lunch breaks or in the evenings after leaving a coaching centre, where they can study for up to six hours at a time
  • Competition for places at India's top universities is fierce and the pressure prompts students to appeal to divine powers
    Competition for places at India's top universities is fierce and the pressure prompts students to appeal to divine powers
  • Some wishes are written by students wanting to make their parents proud
    Some wishes are written by students wanting to make their parents proud
  • 'I can't tell you my wish, but it was fulfilled,' said one regular visitor to the Radha Krishna temple
    'I can't tell you my wish, but it was fulfilled,' said one regular visitor to the Radha Krishna temple