Five Suspects Sought After Dvarapalaka Statue Vandalized at Cary's Sri Venkateswara Temple
The Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina temple in Cary was vandalized in the early morning hours of January 18, 2026, when five individuals damaged the Dvarapalaka guardian statue at the temple's entrance before fleeing in a small sedan; the Cary Police Department is investigating and asking the public to contact Crimestoppers at (919) 460-4636 with any information.
🗳️ Cary Police Investigate Pre-Dawn Vandalism at Sri Venkateswara Temple
The Cary Police Department is investigating an act of vandalism at the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina, a Hindu temple in Cary, which occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 18, according to ABC11 reporting. The incident happened around 3:00 a.m. A video recorded by the temple's surveillance cameras captured at least five individuals running to a car described as a small sedan and speeding away from the scene. Shortly after the suspects were observed fleeing, the Dvarapalaka statue located at the front of the temple was found to have been damaged. The Dvarapalaka is a statue that traditionally stands as a guardian figure at the entrance to a Hindu temple. Detectives from the Cary Police Department are working to identify the individuals seen in the surveillance footage and are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the damage to determine the nature of the act. The department has appealed to the public for assistance. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cary Crimestoppers at (919) 460-4636. Authorities noted that those providing tips are not required to reveal their identity, with the intent of making it easier for witnesses or those with relevant knowledge to come forward. The case involves the Sri Venkateswara of North Carolina, a temple serving the Hindu community in the Cary area. [1]
🤝 Hindu Community's Sense of Security Shaken After Symbolic Guardian Statue Damaged
In the early hours of Sunday, January 18, 2026, surveillance cameras at the Sri Venkateswara Hindu temple in Cary, North Carolina, recorded a group of at least five individuals approaching the premises, according to reporting by Evrim Agaci. The footage shows these individuals running toward a small sedan before hastily leaving the area. The urgency of their departure, as captured on camera, has been noted by investigators working to uncover the motives and identities of those involved. The Dvarapalaka statue — a figure that traditionally stands as a symbolic guardian at the threshold of Hindu temples — was found damaged at the entrance to the Sri Venkateswara temple after the suspects had fled. For many in the local Hindu community, the damage to the statue represents not only harm to a sacred space but a blow to their sense of security and belonging in Cary. The Cary Police Department has confirmed that detectives are working to identify those involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the damage. Officials have asked anyone with information to contact Cary Crimestoppers at (919) 460-4636 or to submit tips anonymously through www.p3tips.com/1242. Police have stated that those providing information do not need to reveal their identity. The Sri Venkateswara temple is described as a hub of cultural and spiritual life for the local Hindu community in Cary. [4]
🪔 World's Tallest Murugan Statue — 155 Feet, Taller Than Statue of Liberty — Planned for North Carolina
North Carolina is set to become home to the world's tallest statue of Lord Murugan, according to IndianEagle, a publication covering US-India travel news and Indian diaspora stories. The planned statue will stand 155 feet tall and is described as taller than the Statue of Liberty, making it a landmark of significant scale for Hindu communities in the United States. The statue is part of a temple complex spanning 130 acres in North Carolina. IndianEagle described the project as coming up in the USA, indicating it was in progress or anticipated at the time of reporting. Lord Murugan is a central deity in the Hindu tradition, particularly revered within Tamil and South Indian communities, including the large South Indian diaspora settled across North Carolina in cities such as Cary, Raleigh, and Durham. A statue standing 155 feet tall, described as exceeding the height of the Statue of Liberty, and set within a 130-acre campus, would represent one of the most substantial South Asian religious infrastructure projects undertaken anywhere in the United States. IndianEagle highlighted the project in its travel and diaspora coverage, noting it as a destination of major interest for Indians in North Carolina and for Indian-American readers nationally. A temple complex of this scope would draw Hindu devotees and visitors interested in South Asian culture from across the country. [6]
Sources: [1] ABC11 News · [4] Evrim Ağacı · [6] IndianEagle