Hindus in United States have expressed concerned after reports of various broken windows and scrawling of word “FEAR†at Kent Hindu Temple wall in Washington State late February 26 night.
The Inside View of Kent Hindu Temple
This was second such incident in recent days in Seattle metropolitan area after scrawling of “GET OUT†on Bothell Hindu Temple was discovered on February 15. In addition, a Hindu grandfather was roughed-up by police in Madison (Alabama) on February six resulting in partial paralysis. These two vandalized temples are about 34 miles apart from each other in Seattle metropolitan area of Washington State.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that it was shocking for the hard-working, harmonious and peaceful US Hindu community numbering about three million; who had made lot of contributions to the nation and society; to receive such signals of hatred and anger.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged administration for swift action to regain the falling confidence of the Hindu community.
Rajan Zed suggested that basics of major world religions should be taught in high schools of the country and first responders should be imparted cultural competency training so that we understood each other better in view of increasing diversity of the country. Zed urged fellow Hindus to educate Americans about Hinduism, the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents, and try to remove any misconceptions about it.
Zed pointed out that reasons for the success of the US Hindu community in the areas of education, wealth and long-lasting harmonious marriages were because of their continuing with the traditional values of hard work, higher morals, stress on education, sanctity of marriage, etc., in USA amidst so many distractions.
Kent Hindu Temple (Sanatan Dharma Temple and Cultural Center), a non-profit organization formed in 2002, opens daily and besides regular worship services, also organizes festivals; Indian music, dance and language classes; yoga; weekly children’s-parents’ activities; etc. Jugal Thakor is Temple President, while Rishikesh Tiwari is the Priest. Holi, annual festival of color, is scheduled for March eight.