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Wrong Yoda Was.
[Image credit: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, 1980]
In India, they know a different truth. Size DOES matter. And they’re good at it. India’s 16-mile long Hirakud Dam in Odisha is the longest earth dam in the world. The world’s longest railway platform is located at Hubballi Junction (Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Station) in Karnataka, India.
I’ve stood in front of the world’s biggest pinky toe (connected to the 597-foot Unity Statue, the world’s tallest.) India’s Unity Statue honors Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who played a key role in integrating India’s disparate kingdoms after independence.
Last year we joined more than 660 million people from all over the world to swim in the Ganges during the 2025 Kumbh Mela, the largest peacetime gathering in human history.
Last month, we visited Murdeshwar where we went to the top (luckily via elevator) of the 20-story 249-foot tall gopuram, the world’s tallest temple tower and entrance to the Murdeshwar Shiva Temple. From there we viewed the 123-foot statue of Shiva, the world’s largest in seated position, and visited the epic statues in front and in the cave beneath, telling the legend of the founding of the temple.
Sadly, we could only stay one night because our hotel filled up with life insurance salesmen. They were everywhere, crowding the restaurant, the halls, and the lobby. We noticed two things about them: they were all men, and they were ecstatically happy to be there. Not being either of those things, we left for Udupi early the next morning.
On the way, we stopped at the Mookambika Devi Temple at Kollur for what was supposed to be a short visit. It was an incredibly hot day, and we had to wait while another group had a private blessing. But finally, the doors opened again, and everyone tried to cram into the sanctum at the same time. Then, before we could get inside, we were all held back again while a large group who were there for another special blessing got to go ahead of all those waiting.
Between the heat and the surging crowds, I was starting to panic. But as with many occasions on our travels in India, it’s when things go wrong that the best things happen. When we were finally allowed to enter, there were so many people pushing through the narrow doorway that I couldn’t see anything. Then one of the priests plucked us out of the crowd and allowed us to climb up a step for a better view of the gorgeous temple and ceremony.
Normally, that should have been the whole story. Instead, the various delays meant we had a perfect view of the unusual events that followed. We left the sanctum, walked around the temple, and were about to leave when the music started. Musicians were standing in front of one of the chariot (thrones) used to parade the deity on special feast days. A procession of people came out of the temple carrying various items such as the idol (carried on the head of a tall priest), and other symbolic items. The idol was placed in the first chariot, and people who were part of the special blessing picked it up by the poles on either end and carried it. Priests, musicians, and worshippers went in procession around the main temple twice.
The priest transferred the idol to another chariot, this one with pairs of poles that went onto the shoulders of those chosen to carry it. Everyone fell in behind them for two more processions around the outside of the temple. But they were just getting started. The idol was ceremoniously installed in the huge wooden chariot, and a large group of people in two rows pulled it by the poles out the front. Someone explained that this very special event only happens once a year. If we hadn’t been delayed by the earlier special blessings, we would have missed it entirely.
P.S. I still haven’t made it to another of India’s world records: Jatayu, the world’s biggest bird statue, measures a whopping 200 feet long, 150 feet wide, and 70 feet tall. But there’s always next year’s trip. With any luck, something will go very wrong and create unforgettable memories.
Barb Taub 