As Diwali approaches—a time celebrated for its themes of light and unity—Canberra’s Hindu community found itself faced with an act of profound violation and distress. Two Hindu temples—the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre in Florey and the Vishnu Shiva Temple—were brazenly targeted by masked intruders, who vandalised and looted both sacred sites. The incidents, taking place during a religiously significant festival to the Hindu community, reveal a concerning pattern that Australia can no longer ignore, casting serious doubt on our nation’s commitment to crime, inclusion and respect.
During the recent attacks on Hindu temples in Canberra, the vandals specifically targeted the sacred Shiva Lingam at the Vishnu Shiva Temple. This revered idol, which represents Lord Shiva and is central to Hindu worship, was senselessly desecrated and broken. For Hindus, the Shiva Lingam holds profound spiritual significance as a symbol of divine energy and creation.
In a particularly shocking desecration, the Shiva Lingam—a profoundly sacred symbol to Hindus worldwide—was destroyed, leaving the community shaken and disillusioned. The destruction of this sacred symbol has caused deep sorrow and outrage within the Australian Hindu community, compounding the pain of these attacks and highlighting the need for protection of all places of worship. This violation isn’t merely physical damage; it represents a serious affront to religious freedom and a painful act of disrespect that highlights the growing concerns.
Footage from the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre captures the intruders arriving in a black van, ramming into the temple entrance, and looting multiple donation boxes, including one that weighed over 200 kilograms. An hour later, these vandals proceeded to the Vishnu Shiva Temple, forcing entry with crowbars and ransacking the reception area. These attacks, particularly around Diwali, highlight a disturbing rise in religious vilification that cannot be dismissed as isolated or rare. The targeting of two places of worship during such a sacred time shows calculated malice, making this a political and social issue that goes beyond a single incident. It reveals a troubling disconnect between Australia’s ideals of multicultural respect and the lived realities of some communities.
Though Australia aspires to cultivate true diversity and inclusivity, incidents like these lay bare a gap between our national values and our actions. The Hindu community and its allies are calling on leaders and policymakers to respond with urgency, not only to apprehend those responsible but to take clear steps toward protecting places of worship and demonstrating that such hateful actions have no place in our society. This moment demands an unequivocal stance from our nation’s leaders. It is critical to demonstrate that religious intolerance does not just harm individual communities; it fundamentally fractures the fabric of our society. A meaningful response from those in power—one that transcends mere words—will be essential to bridging the widening gap between our ideals and our practices. By safeguarding the sanctity and security of all places of worship, we reinforce Australia’s commitment to an inclusive future that honors all faiths.
We appeal to Federal Government that these repetitive incidents to be prevented actively, by generous and committed grants to protect our places of worships. Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre, in Florey was unsuccessful in receiving the Federal Government Grant for Security of Religious places in 2024. Repeated incidents are weakening the belief of Australian Hindu Indian (AHI) Communities as they remain vulnerable by these nefarious attacks.
We urge Australians to stand with the Hindu community in condemning these acts of intolerance. Diwali symbolises the triumph of light over darkness, a reminder to act in defense of respect and unity.
The time to fortify the ideals of inclusion in Australia is now.
