INDIA1877 It was a reasonably mild day in December in Rajasthan. I was so excited to finally get to photograph one of India's major attraction (IMHO) located in India's small northwestern city of Deshnoke, 30km south of Bikaner not far from the Pakistan border. This is a place of worship: Rajastan's famous Karni Mata Temple, where rats in the hundreds roam freely fully fed and worshipped by the Hindu population of this amazing country. The legend: Karni Mata ( mother rat in english) who was a reincarnation of DURGA ( a fierce goddess, wife of SHIVA) asked the GOD of DEATH, YAMA to bring back the life of a local storyteller's son. Yama would not do it. KM then reincarnated all dead storytellers as rats, to deprive YAMA of human souls. INDIA1838 I saw the white rat several times. It is considered good fortune in hinduism. Many devotees will eat holy food offerings to the holy rats because the rats saliva is thought of as bringing good luck. At the entrance of the Temple are silver doors and marble carvings that are donated by Maharaja Ganga Singh. Once inside you are sharing a temple with hundreds of kabas ( rats ) and without your shoes on. One of Indias best 10 sites! INDIA1845 Karni Mata Temple INDIA1848 Karni Mata Temple INDIA1846 Karni Mata Temple