Statues broken, fires lit as vandals break into Hindu temple in western Sydney
THE wanton destruction of more than 30 statues of Hindu Gods and the setting of small fires inside at the Barathiye Mandir Temple in Regents Park on Sunday has devastated the close knit community.
The Express
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THE wanton destruction of more than 30 statues of Hindu Gods and the setting of small fires inside at the Barathiye Mandir Temple in Regents Park on Sunday has devastated the close knit community.
Head priest of the temple, Pundit Paras Maharaj told the Canterbury Bankstown Express they have no enemies and get on very well with their neighbours, making Sunday’s destruction even more baffling.
Pundit Maharaj said the vandalism could be a hate crime against Hindus, saying all their statutes were broken and it will cost them more than $50,000 to replace them and the other items destroyed. The temple is now closed and some of the parishioners are praying at a makeshift area.
Officers from the Auburn Police Area Command are conducting investigations into the vandalism, having discovered that a person or persons had forced entry into the temple, destroyed property and started a few fires.
Making it worse for the congregation which numbers more than 200 is that the vandalism took place during one of the holiest times of the year, when Hindus celebrate the rituals of Devi Durga Mata.
The Kibo Rd temple — which used to be a former Anglican Church — provides free meals to around 200 people every Friday.
“If you saw the destruction, you would have cried, this is a sacrilege,” Pundit Maharaj said.
“We have been here since 1998 and we have never had a problem with anyone.
“About 10 years ago, someone threw a stone at one of our temple windows, but that was a random act.
“After that we secured the windows and built a fence around the temple.
On Sunday’s vandalism, the head priest said: “The parishioners came to pray at 6 pm on Sunday and found the temple smoking from inside.
“When they investigated it, they saw some people who then jumped through the window and escaped.
“We called the police and they were at the temple till about 2am.
“This could be a hate crime against Hinduism and the Hindu religion but we have very good ties with our neighbours and have preserved the structure of the old church.
“I cannot think of anyone wishing to do this to us.
“Some of the people have said it could be druggies but I won’t think so because the till box was on the floor but it was not opened, despite having signs saying it is the till box.”
He said they will restore the temple but it will take time.
“This is the prime time of Hindu prayer session where all Hindus pray for nine days starting from October 10-18,” Pundit Maharaj said.
“We will continue to pray here and we will clean up the temple and restore it.”
“What else can we do?