Vandals struck at a Kali Temple in Carli Bay on Friday throwing a liquid, believed to be acid, on the floor and on the murtis including that of the Divine Goddess Kali Ma.
This recent attack is the second in just over a year.
The first was around this same time during the auspicious occasion of Navaratri.
According to Wikipedia, Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival observed in honour of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. It spans over nine nights (and ten days), first in the month of Chaitra (March/April), and again in the month of Ashvin (September/October). It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Hindu Indian cultural sphere.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Pandita Srimati Donna Ji of the Jai Kali Maa Mandir, Carli Bay, said the sacrilege will not deter them from celebrating the Divine Goddesses.
Pandita Srimati gathered with scores of devotees and worshipped several murtis of Hindu goddesses, including a new murti of Kali Ma, made of clay that will be taken to the temple at Carli Bay in a procession from a devotee’s residence in Brickfield.
The Pandita used the opportunity to send a strong message to the vandals and those who may be tempted to carry out a similar attack on any place of worship to “think twice”.
“Just as we have our earthly mother, our earthly mother came from this Divine Goddess and our Maa Kali. So to actually have that mindset to go and interfere with the Divine Goddess Maa Kali and any other Divine murti it comes like you’re interfering with your own mother or any female in society,” she said.
“So my message is to please think twice before you make a decision. Make sure that it is a right one. Make sure that you are thinking positively. Make sure that you know what you are doing that when you commit that act you would feel that sense of pride and not a sense of guilt and you would not allow other people to have a sense of remorse or pain or suffering because of what you’re doing,” she added.
Pandita Srimati explained that the vandalism will not break their spirit or stop them from celebrating Navaratri.
“Navaratri meaning nine and nine nights. It is the auspicious occasion for the Divine Goddess Ma Lakshmi, Ma Durga and Ma Kali Ma in various ways. One of these ways is where we install a clay murti where we’ll pay homage, pray to allow us to be kind and compassionate, to always allow us to think straight and love each and every single living being as she is the mother of the entire Universe,” Pandita Srimati added.
The religious leader said the incident was reported to the police and while there seems to be increased police patrols in the area she said there needs to be a broader security net in the entire Carli Bay area.