The Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina in Cary was vandalised last week, with damage reported to one of the temple’s Dvarapalakas, or sacred guardian deity statues, near the Raja Gopuram entrance. The incident occurred on January 18 and was reported immediately to local law enforcement, according to Hindu advocacy groups.
The Hindu American Foundation stated that the Cary Police Department has initiated an investigation and is reviewing surveillance footage from the temple premises. Authorities indicated that while physical damage was caused to the statue, the spiritual sanctity of the temple had not been affected.
Temple officials said restoration work on the damaged statue is being carried out in accordance with traditional agamic practices. The incident was also reported by New India Abroad.
Several Hindu advocacy organisations condemned the vandalism and called for a thorough investigation. The Hindu American Foundation described the incident as an attack on a religious community and urged law enforcement to take the matter seriously, warning against minimising such acts.
HinduPACT’s American Hindus Against Defamation characterised the damage to the place of worship as abhorrent and demanded that those responsible be identified and prosecuted. The group also offered support to the temple and its community and reached out to local authorities and federal officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel.
Both organisations stated that the incident should not be viewed as an isolated case of property damage, arguing that it raises broader concerns about the safety of Hindu places of worship in the United States and warrants examination of any potential bias-driven motive.
As of 22 January 2026, police have not announced any arrests and have not released information regarding suspects or possible motives.
The incident has renewed attention to concerns raised by Hindu groups over repeated acts of vandalism targeting temples across the United States 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 urged devotees to remain calm while the investigation continues.
Source: Times of India
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