Cary's Sri Venkateswara Temple Vandalized; Hindu Groups Demand Hate Crime Investigation

A Dvarapalaka statue — one of the sacred guardian deity figures standing at the entrance of the Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina in Cary — was vandalized in the early morning hours of January 18, 2026, leaving the local Hindu community shaken and seeking answers. Surveillance footage from the temple captured at least five individuals fleeing the scene in a small sedan around 3 a.m. Cary police have opened an investigation and are appealing to the public for help, while national Hindu advocacy organizations are calling for the incident to be formally investigated as a hate crime.

🪔 Sacred Guardian Statue Damaged at Cary Hindu Temple

The Sri Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina, located in Cary, was targeted by vandals in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 18, 2026. The Cary Police Department confirmed it is investigating the case, which was first reported at approximately 3:00 a.m. Temple surveillance cameras captured the incident: footage shows at least five individuals running toward a parked car and then speeding away from the temple grounds. Officers described the getaway vehicle as a small sedan. Shortly after the group fled, the Dvarapalaka statue at the front of the temple was discovered to be damaged. A Dvarapalaka is a guardian deity figure traditionally placed at the entrance of Hindu temples — divine protectors who stand watch over the sacred threshold and the devotees who cross it. Their presence at a temple entrance carries deep spiritual significance in Hindu religious practice, and damage to such a figure is felt sharply by the worshipping community. The Cary Police Department assigned detectives to the case to identify all individuals involved and to examine the circumstances that led to the vandalism. Law enforcement has appealed to the public for help: anyone who recognizes the suspects, the vehicle, or has any relevant information is asked to contact Cary Crimestoppers at (919) 460-4636. Callers do not need to reveal their identity. [2]

🗳️ Cary Police Seek Five Suspects; Anonymous Tips Welcomed

WRAL provided additional detail on the Cary Police Department's ongoing investigation into the Sri Venkateswara temple vandalism. Surveillance cameras recorded five individuals on the temple grounds at approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, January 18. The group was captured leaving the area in a small sedan, which sped away before staff discovered the damaged Dvarapalaka statue at the temple entrance. Investigators confirmed the inquiry remains open and that officers are actively working both to identify all parties involved and to establish the full circumstances surrounding the damage. Police have offered two channels for community members to submit information anonymously. Anyone with knowledge about the suspects or the vehicle can call Cary Crimestoppers at 919-460-4636, or submit a tip digitally at www.p3tips.com/1242, which supports fully anonymous reporting. Law enforcement encouraged area residents who live or work near the temple to review any home or business security camera footage from the early morning hours of January 18 and to reach out if anything relevant appears. The decision to provide two separate anonymous reporting options demonstrates the police department's commitment to making community participation as accessible as possible. Investigators appear to be counting on local residents to help piece together the sequence of events, and every piece of information, however small, could prove significant to the case. [5]

🤝 Hindu Advocacy Groups Call for Hate Crime Investigation

The Times of India offered broader context on how the Hindu community and national advocacy organizations responded to the vandalism. The damaged statue was identified as one of the Dvarapalakas traditionally placed near the Raja Gopuram — the ceremonial royal tower entrance — of the Sri Venkateswara Temple. The vandalism occurred on January 18 and was immediately reported to the Cary Police Department, which began reviewing surveillance footage. Temple authorities confirmed that the spiritual sanctity of the temple has not been affected by the incident. Restoration of the damaged statue is being conducted in accordance with traditional agamic practices — the classical Sanskrit ritual guidelines that govern the repair and reinstatement of sacred temple structures, ensuring the statue's sacred status is preserved throughout the process. National Hindu advocacy organizations responded with urgency. The Hindu American Foundation posted on X that the act was not simply vandalism but an attack on a religious community, demanding a thorough investigation and warning that silence and minimization only embolden more attacks. HinduPACT's American Hindus Against Defamation called the damage abhorrent and demanded that those responsible be apprehended and prosecuted for this hate crime, tagging both local police and FBI Director Kash Patel in its outreach. Both organizations framed the incident as reflecting deeper, ongoing concerns about the physical security of Hindu places of worship across the United States. [7]

Sources: [2] ABC11 News · [5] WRAL · [7] The Times of India