In yet another shocking act of anti-Hindu hatred, unknown miscreants vandalized the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sacramento, California, defacing the temple with hate-filled graffiti, including messages like “Hindus go back!” This disturbing incident marks the second desecration of a BAPS temple in the U.S. in less than 10 days, after a similar attack on the BAPS Mandir in New York on September 17.
The BAPS Public Affairs department, taking to social media, condemned the attack, stating, “Less than 10 days after the desecration of the BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in Sacramento, CA was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate: ‘Hindus go back!’ We stand united against hate with prayers for peace.” The incident has sent shockwaves through the local Hindu community and the wider Hindu diaspora, highlighting the increasing frequency of hate crimes targeting temples.
Local law enforcement responded quickly to the temple’s plea for help. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office noted not only the hateful graffiti but also reported that vandals had cut water lines on the temple property, further damaging the sacred space. BAPS, a globally renowned Hindu organization, assured the community that they are working closely with authorities to investigate the hate crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The vandalism of the Sacramento temple comes less than 10 days after the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, was similarly defaced with anti-Hindu messages. That incident, too, was widely condemned, including by the Consulate General of India in New York, which described it as “unacceptable.” The recurring attacks on Hindu places of worship in the U.S. point to a worrying pattern of systemic hate, with temples increasingly becoming targets of vandalism.
BAPS, headquartered in Gujarat, operates over 100 temples and centers across North America. In 2023, the organization inaugurated the Akshardham temple in New Jersey, now the largest Hindu temple outside of India.