‘Not just vandalism’: Statue damaged at Hindu temple in US, investigation under way
The Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina in Cary was vandalised, according to the Hindu America Foundation. One of the ‘Dvarapalakas’ (sacred guardian deity statues) near the Raja Gopuram entrance was damaged on January 18, the officials said, adding that the incident was reported immediately to the Cary Police Department, which is reviewing surveillance footage.Authorities also indicated that the spiritual sanctity of the temple has not been affected, and restoration of the damaged statue is being carried out in accordance with traditional agamic practices, New India Abroad reported.Hindu advocacy organisations condemned the incident and called on law enforcement to examine the vandalism.The Hindu American Foundation said in a post on X that the act was “not ‘just vandalism’” but “an attack on a religious community,” urging a thorough investigation and warning that “silence and minimization only embolden more attacks.”HinduPACT’s American Hindus Against Defamation described the damage to the “sacred place of worship” as “abhorrent” and demanded that those responsible be “apprehended and prosecuted for this hate crime.” The group also offered assistance to the temple and its community, tagging local police and FBI Director Kash Patel in its outreach.Both organisations said the incident should be viewed as more than isolated property damage, arguing that it reflects broader concerns about the safety of Hindu places of worship in the United States and warrants scrutiny of any potential bias-driven motive.As of Jan. 22, police have announced no arrests and have not released details about suspects or possible motives.The episode has renewed attention to concerns raised by Hindu groups about repeated incidents of vandalism at temples nationwide in recent years.The Sri Venkateswara Temple serves as a major spiritual and cultural centre for Hindus in North Carolina’s Research Triangle region, hosting religious services, festivals, educational programmes, and community events. Temple leadership has asked devotees to remain calm while the investigation continues.
