Hayward: Hindu Temple Vandalized With Khalistan Graffiti as Bay Area Sikhs Condemn Hate
Two defining stories shaped the Bay Area South Asian community in recent months: a pair of hate-crime vandalism attacks on Hindu temples — including one in Hayward — that drew a swift cross-faith condemnation from Sikh leaders, and a record-breaking Diwali celebration at the Alameda County Fairgrounds that drew tens of thousands of attendees and affirmed the diaspora’s growing civic presence in California.
🤝 East Bay Hindu Temples Tagged With Khalistan Graffiti; Sikh and Hindu Leaders Unite in Condemnation
The Vijay’s Sherawali Temple in Hayward became the target of anti-India vandalism when it was defaced in January 2024 with graffiti reading “Modi is a terrorist” and “Khalistan Zindabad” — slogans linked to a separatist movement seeking an independent Sikh homeland in parts of India. A second temple, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Newark, had been hit in December 2023. Together, the attacks galvanized a rare and pointed cross-community response in the East Bay. The Jakara Movement, a Sikh community organization, joined city leaders from both Hayward and Newark, local law enforcement, and South Asian organizers of multiple faiths at a press conference to condemn the vandalism. “Reading in the newspaper about two vandalism events in mandirs in Newark and Hayward, left me wondering: How can this still be happening in 2024?” said Rakaab Singh, a youth organizer with Jakara. The unequivocal message from the Sikh community was that hatred targeting any house of worship is unacceptable — a stance that carries particular weight given the fraught history between some Hindu and Sikh nationalist factions. Law enforcement took the matter seriously: Alameda County Sheriff’s Captain Gurvinder Singh Gosal confirmed that the FBI was brought in as a federal partner in the investigation. As of the time of reporting, no suspects had been identified and surveillance footage had not captured usable images. Authorities were treating the incidents as possible hate crimes. For the Hayward Desi community, the vandalism was a sharp reminder of how geopolitical tensions rooted in South Asia — in this case, the Khalistan movement, which has been banned in India following political violence in the 1970s and 80s — can spill into American neighborhoods, threatening community safety and interfaith trust. [6]
🎉 25,000+ Celebrate Diwali at Alameda County Fairgrounds as California Moves to Make It an Official Holiday
More than 25,000 people from across the Bay Area descended on the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton for one of the region’s largest Diwali celebrations, organized by the Association of Indo Americans (AIA) with support from over 150 volunteers. The scale of the event — capped by a fireworks display over the fairgrounds — reflected both the numerical growth and the cultural confidence of the South Asian diaspora in communities like Hayward, Fremont, and the broader East Bay. “I love this celebration, because I have a lot of memories from India going to these kinds of events,” said Neha Agarwal, a Union City resident who brought her children to connect them with the tradition. “I have two kids. I love to bring them here so that they can learn.” Deepika Bajpi, a Hayward resident, captured a sentiment shared by many: “Indians are one of the majority populations now in California. So it gives you that recognition.” Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan, who grew up in the East Bay and is of Indian descent, noted that the growth of Diwali celebrations mirrors the diaspora’s own expanding footprint. “It legitimizes the South Asian community as a solid community in our area. They have much to contribute. They want to give back,” Salwan said. California Attorney General Rob Bonta also attended and framed Diwali’s message of light over darkness as directly relevant to the current political climate, citing federal attacks on immigrant communities and DEI programs. Adding to the significance of the occasion: starting in 2026, Diwali becomes an official California state holiday, a milestone that the diaspora has long pursued and one that signals a new level of civic recognition for South Asian Americans across the state. [2]
Sources: [6] ABC7 Bay Area · [2] ABC7 Bay Area