Hindus worldwide are highly concerned after reports of desecration in Votualevu Tirath Dham Hindu Temple in Nadi area of Fiji.
According to reports, desecration was caused on December 16 night, violating this sacred Hindu place of worship.
Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho visited the temple on Thursday, December 21 and met with its committee members, who shared their disappointment with the events which violated their place of worship.
Brigadier-General Qiliho took a tour of the premises and was shown the extent of damage and graffiti done by the intruders on Saturday.
Damage included pouring paint over the images of deities Ganesha, Hanuman, etc; graffiti/slurs on walls; theft of donation box, sound system and other equipment; rubbish strewn in prayer area; etc.; and was said to be third such act at the temple.
“It has been so helpful to have the Police Commissioner come and visit us. This is our place of worship. We keep it sacred, we treasure it and for some people to come and just rubbish it has really hurt us.” mandir committee president Naresh Kumar told Fiji Sun.
Intruders had painted over deities in the temple, painted graffiti on the walls and stole some equipment.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion in the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.