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Vandals desecrate statues in S African Hindu temple

Fakir Hassen in Durban

The desecration of statues of Hindu deities at one of South Africa's oldest temples on the eve of Diwali has shocked devotees here.

"The century old statues, originally imported from India, have always stood in shrines outside the Narainsamy Temple," said a spokesman for the temple, Tiny Moodley. This was to allow devotees access at any time.

The vandalism appears to have been the work of pranksters, who smashed the statues and left the pieces lying there.

"They probably did not even realise the sentimental and religious significance the statues had for devotees worshipping here for decades," Moodley said.

The statues, which were a significant feature of the temple and attracted thousands of tourists each year, will now have to be replaced by others from India, and serious consideration is being given to erecting a fence around the temple premises to restrict access.

Some months ago, brass statues of Hindu gods were stolen from the historic Mariamman Temple in Pretoria, probably to be sold as scrap metal by thieves.

Indo-Asian News Service

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