The recent defacement of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California, with anti-India graffiti has sparked outrage and widespread condemnation from Indian authorities, Hindu organizations, and community leaders in the United States. This incident marks yet another targeted attack on Hindu religious sites in the country, following a series of similar acts of vandalism that have raised concerns about rising anti-Hindu sentiments. The desecration, which took place less than five months after a similar incident at another Hindu temple in California, highlights a troubling pattern of religious intolerance.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a strong statement on Sunday, denouncing the act as "despicable" and calling on local law enforcement authorities to take immediate and stringent action against those responsible. The ministry further urged authorities to enhance security measures at Hindu places of worship to prevent such hate crimes from recurring.
In a statement released on Saturday night, BAPS in the US confirmed the incident and reassured the Hindu community of its resilience against hate-driven actions. “Together with the community in Chino Hills and Southern California, we will never let hate take root. Our common humanity and faith will ensure that peace and compassion prevail,” the organization said. According to reports, the vandals spray-painted slogans like "Hindus go back" on the walls of the temple, a message reminiscent of previous attacks on Hindu temples across the US.
The Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA), an advocacy group dedicated to improving the understanding of Hinduism in the region, strongly condemned the attack. The group criticized the mainstream media and academia for often downplaying or dismissing Hinduphobia, emphasizing that such incidents are not isolated but part of a growing trend of targeted hate crimes against Hindus. CoHNA also provided a list of at least 10 Hindu temples across the US that have been vandalized or burglarized since 2022, further underscoring the severity of the issue.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) also reacted strongly to the incident, sharing images of the temple's defacement on social media platform X. The organization directly called on FBI officials, including Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and the Chino Hills Police Department, to investigate the crime as part of a broader pattern of anti-Hindu hate in the US. HAF emphasized that places of worship should be treated with dignity and respect, and any form of hate-fueled vandalism should be taken seriously.
This latest act of vandalism follows a series of similar incidents targeting Hindu temples in the United States. On September 25, 2024, another BAPS Hindu temple in California’s state capital, Sacramento, was defaced with expletive-laden graffiti that read "Hindus go back." Just 10 days before that attack, a BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was also defaced with hateful messages. The string of incidents has fueled concerns that Hindu religious sites are being systematically targeted.
The Consulate General of India in New York swiftly condemned the incident and has been in communication with US authorities, urging them to take decisive action to curb the rise in anti-Hindu hate crimes. Law enforcement agencies are now under pressure to track down the perpetrators and take stringent measures to ensure that places of worship remain safe from hate-fueled attacks.
A report by the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), released in May 2023, revealed alarming statistics about religious bias in the state. According to the report, anti-Hindu hate crimes have surged in recent years, making them the second-most reported form of religious discrimination in California. These crimes account for 23.3% of all religious bias-related incidents, following anti-Jewish bias, which remains the highest at 37%. Anti-Muslim hate crimes rank third, comprising 14.6% of reported religious bias incidents.
The repeated attacks on Hindu temples have ignited discussions among community leaders, lawmakers, and activists regarding the urgent need for stronger protections for religious institutions. Many Hindu organizations are now calling for increased security measures, stricter law enforcement action, and broader awareness campaigns to address the growing issue of Hinduphobia. The frequency of these attacks has also raised questions about the role of online and offline propaganda in fueling hatred against minority religious communities.
As the investigation into the Chino Hills incident continues, Hindu advocacy groups and faith leaders are urging the US government to take decisive action against those responsible and implement policies to prevent further attacks. The hope remains that with stronger legal enforcement, community engagement, and heightened awareness, religious hate crimes—particularly those targeting the Hindu community—can be curbed, ensuring that places of worship remain sanctuaries of peace and devotion rather than targets of hate.
