CHINO HILLS, Calif. — Concerns are mounting among South Asian communities following the recent defacement of a prominent Hindu temple in Southern California. This incident, which involved anti-Hindu and anti-Indian government graffiti, follows a troubling trend of similar acts over the past year.
Devotees arriving at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills on the morning of March 8 were met with shocking graffiti reading “Hindustan Murdabad,” a phrase meaning “death to” or “down with” Hindus and India, scrawled on a pink stone sign at the temple, according to a volunteer.
Additional graffiti, targeting India’s Prime Minister, was found on one of the outer walls and nearby sidewalk. Law enforcement officials from San Bernardino County confirm they are investigating the act as a hate crime but have yet to identify any suspects.
The incident has instilled fear within community members, with repercussions noted even in India, where major news outlets covered the story, and India’s External Affairs ministry condemned the vandalism.
“We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms and urge local law enforcement to take stringent action against those responsible, ensuring adequate security at places of worship,” said a ministry spokesperson.
The temple, which draws nearly 1,000 visitors daily and thousands during festivals like Diwali, is a vital spiritual center for the community.
“While we have security measures, an incident like this makes one question safety, especially for families with young children,” the volunteer added.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is the largest Hindu temple in California, featuring stunning architecture crafted from pink sandstone and white Italian marble. In October 2023, the organization completed the largest Hindu temple outside India in modern times in Robbinsville, New Jersey. The Swaminarayan sect oversees over 1,300 temples and 5,000 centers worldwide.
This defacement is not an isolated incident; other BAPS temples have faced similar attacks in the U.S., including the Melville, New York temple and another in Sacramento, both of which are currently under investigation as hate crimes.
The trend of denigrating Prime Minister Modi aligns with increased Hindu nationalism in India and has been noted in vandalism cases against various non-BAPS Hindu temples across the country. In January 2024, a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Durga in California was similarly vandalized.
Following the California attack, some community leaders suggested a potential link to ongoing Khalistan referendum activities. A spokesperson emphasized that the repeated targeting of Hindu worship sites must not be tolerated.
“We seek peace in our places of worship. When they become targets, it undermines our solace,” the spokesperson stated.
Calls for a deeper dialogue regarding anti-Hindu sentiment and the protection of Hindu temples have emerged, with leaders pleading for unity instead of division. Observers warned against hastily assuming the identity of perpetrators before investigations conclude, as it risks further polarization among communities.
Patel, a community member, emphasized the diverse nature of Hinduism in the U.S., highlighting that the Chino Hills temple serves individuals from various backgrounds. He expressed hope that surveillance footage of the suspects may aid authorities in their search.
In response to the attack, temple members gathered to pray for peace and healing, reinforcing their belief in peaceful expression and dialogue.
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