Fresh ‘Hinduphobia’ incident? Hindu temple vandalised in US ahead of Navratri

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) said the attack on Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple Vadtaldham took place just 10 days before the Hindu community was due to celebrate Navratri, a major annual religious festival.

In a joint statement, the groups said: "This afternoon, in a fresh incident of Hinduphobia, the Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Temple Vadtaldham, in the greater Cleveland area, Ohio, was attacked and vandalized with bricks, shattering windows while priests and some devotees were inside."

"This comes as Hindus in Ohio begin celebrating Hindu Heritage Month and honor the Divine Feminine through Navratri in less than 10 days," the statement added.

CoHNA also shared a video purportedly showing a person throwing a brick at the temple. The organisation described the incident as another instance of what it called "Hinduphobia".

The Hindu American Foundation said authorities had begun reviewing surveillance footage from the site.

"Surveillance video is available and being reviewed by authorities. The @FBI @CivilRights are being alerted. HAF is in touch with temple leaders and offering all assistance," the foundation wrote in a post on X.

Calling the incident a possible hate crime, HAF said it came amid what it described as "unprecedented hate and vitriol" directed at the Hindu American community.

The foundation urged law enforcement agencies to prioritise identifying and apprehending those responsible. It also called on elected representatives and government agencies to publicly and unequivocally condemn hateful rhetoric directed at Indian and Hindu American communities.

Imamges credit: CoHNA/X