The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in California was on Wednesday desecrated with anti-Hindu messages, the second such incident in the US in eight days. The BAPS Public Affairs said their temple in Sacramento was desecrated with a “Hindus go back” message. 

“We stand united against hate with prayers for peace,” they said in a post on X.

Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: “Hindus go back!” We stand united against hate with prayers for peace.

— BAPS Public Affairs (@BAPS_PubAffairs) September 25, 2024

The Sacramento Police said that they were investigating a “vandalism being classified as a hate crime” at the BAPS Hindu Temple in Mather. 

They said that the accused had also cut water lines at the property.

“Detectives and CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) are on scene,” they posted on X.

@sacsheriff and @RanchoCordovaPD are investigating a vandalism being classified as a hate crime at the BAPS Hindu Temple in Mather. Detectives and CSI are on scene. pic.twitter.com/0mAyfhu9JA

— Sacramento Sheriff (@sacsheriff) September 25, 2024

Following the incident, Hindu community leaders gathered at the temple in Sacramento for a prayer ceremony calling for “peace and unity”.

Community leaders gathered for a heartfelt prayer ceremony at the @BAPS Mandir in Sacramento, CA, following the desecration of the mandir. Inspired by Mahant Swami Maharaj, we remain dedicated to promoting harmony and standing against intolerance. Together we will defeat hate. pic.twitter.com/LVBUAkCBnh

— BAPS Public Affairs (@BAPS_PubAffairs) September 26, 2024

Earlier on September 16, the road and the signage outside the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, New York, were sprayed with expletives. Melville is located in Suffolk County and is about 28 kilometres from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where Prime Minister Modi addressed a mega community event on Sunday.

The Consulate General of India in New York had condemned the vandalism in Melville, labelling it “unacceptable” and a “heinous act”.

“No Place For Religious Bigotry And Hatred”

Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera, who represents Sacramento County, reacted to the vandalism at the Hindu temple and said that there is “no place for religious bigotry and hatred” in Sacramento. 

“I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community. All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected,” he posted on X.

There is no place for religious bigotry and hatred in #SacramentoCounty. I strongly condemn this apparent act of vandalism in our community.

All of us must stand against intolerance and ensure that everyone in our community, regardless of faith, feels safe and respected. https://t.co/TRX3Q7XJ6t

— Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) September 25, 2024

Ro Khanna, another Indian-American Congressman, spoke on the incident and said that “this type of hate against Hindu Americans and vandalism is appalling and morally wrong”. 

“The Department of Justice must investigate these hate crimes, and those responsible should be held fully accountable under the law,” Mr Khanna said.

New Delhi:

The United States is set to get its largest temple next month. The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, located 90 m south of Times Square in New Jersey, will be formally inaugurated on October 8.

The 183-acre temple took nearly 12 years to be built and its construction involved over 12,500 volunteers from across the US.

Located in New Jersey’s Robbinsville Township, the temple is possibly the second largest after Angkor Wat in Cambodia, a UNESCO World Heritage site spanning across 500 acres.

The Akshardham temple in Delhi is spread over 100 acres.

The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in US has been designed as per the ancient Indian culture. There are over 10,000 statues and carvings of Indian musical instruments and dance forms at the temple.

Besides a main shrine, the temple has 12 sub-shrines, nine shikhars (spire-like structures), and nine pyramidal shikhars. It also has the largest elliptical dome of traditional stone architecture.

Nearly two million cubic feet of stone, including limestone, granite, pink sandstone and marble, was used for its construction. They were sourced from different parts of the world, including India, Turkey, Greece, Italy and China.

At the temple, a traditional Indian stepwell called the ‘Brahma Kund’ has the water from over 300 waters bodies across the world.

The temple will open for visitors from October 18.