LIVINGSTON, NJ: Early Saturday morning, August 2, Vishwa Bhavan Mandir, a Hindu temple in Monroe, Georgia, discovered their building and the statue of Lord Siva (murti) were vandalized. The building and the statue was defaced with black spray paint with, profane and damaging graffiti. The Walton County Sheriff Department’s has started a search for the perpetrator of this crime. So far, it is not known who committed this act of vandalism.
The Mandir management reached out to Hindu American Seva Communities (HASC) to guide it in developing an emergency action plan and to bring more awareness on the issue of vandalism and hate crime in our temples. HASC works closely with the Department of Homeland Security. And, as a member of DHS’ Faith Based Advisory Council, HASC provides a Hindu/Dharmic perspective to the agency.
The desecration of the Lord Shiva statue (murti) was significantly heartbreaking for the Hindu community in Georgia, as it is the main deity of worship. Across the country, we find, many mandirs (temples) do not actively voice their concerns other than file a police report.
Anju Bhargava, HASC Board Member, said, “It is important for our places of worship, around the country, to be aware of what has happened as this could happen to anyone. They should educate themselves and be prepared with a security plan and not wait for an act of vandalism or a hate crime to start the process. Just last week in Queens, NY a Sikh father of two was critically injured due to a targeted hate crime, hence it becomes even more imperative for the Dharmic community (people of eastern traditions) to speak up and have more law enforcement resources devoted to finding the hate attackers.”
HASC is a progressive American organization advancing seva (community service), and social justice to ignite grassroots social change and build healthy communities while strengthening our places of worship. Through education and policy changes it seeks to bridge the gap between US government and Hindu and Dharmic people and places of worship. One such educational resource is the Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship which can augment development of security and protection plans.
HASC has called upon places of worship to transform this heinous crime and moment of pain into a moment of greater understanding and social harmony. It is important for us to come together and address the issue of vandalism and hate crime impacting our communities and places of worship, it says.
Mike Ghouse
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
