Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple

Varanasi, India

Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred temples of the Hindu god Hanuman in the city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is situated by the Assi river on near to the Durga and the New Vishwanath temple within the Banaras Hindu University campus. Sankat Mochan in Hindi means reliever from troubles. The current temple structure was built in early 1900s by the educationist and freedom fighter, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University. Hanuman Jayanti, the birthday of Hanuman, is celebrated in fanfare, during which a special shobha yatra, a procession starting from Durgakund adjacent to the historic Durga Temple to Sankat Mochan, is carried out. In the temple, offerings to Lord Hanuman are sold like the special sweet "besan ke ladoo", which the devotees relish; the idol is also decked with a pleasant marigold flower garland as well. This temple has the unique distinction of having Lord Hanuman facing his Lord, Rama, whom he worshiped with steadfast and selfless devotion.