Sacrilege Irks Loyal Pujari
“I was shocked to see lord Shiva’s idol darkened and charred. I stepped outside to collect my thoughts,” Ms Reddy said.
Thursday 18 April 2024 | 14:22
Sri Shiva Subramaniya temple pujari and caretaker, Sangeeta Reddy, with the partially burnt Lord Shiva statue at Naitata Navua on April 13, 2024. Photo: Ronald Kumar
Navua Sri Shiva Subramaniya Temple pujari Sangeeta Reddy, is alleging sacrilege after the temple was reportedly broken into, and the idol of Lord Shiva burned last Saturday.
Sacrilege refers to the violation or misuse of what is considered sacred.
Ms Reddy said the alleged incident marked the third temple break-in since last year.
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“I have lived here since I was six years old. This temple, built in 1948 by my great-grandfather, holds ancestral significance. I typically close the temple around 7:30pm to 8pm. Upon entering the temple the next day, I noticed the smell of benzene,” Ms Reddy said.
“At first, I dismissed it thinking it might be from fishermen on the river nearby. However, as I moved in further, the smell of burning grew stronger, and I suspected something amiss.”
As she entered the temple, she realised the extent of the damage.
“I was shocked to see lord Shiva’s idol darkened and charred. I stepped outside to collect my thoughts,” Ms Reddy said.
“I immediately contacted the police. About $200 is missing. Seeing lord Shiva in this state is distressing. If someone needed assistance, they should have approached us instead of resorting to such acts, which have disrupted our peace.”
Divisional Police Commander South (DPC/S), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Wate Vocevoce said: “Officers responded to the report. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire originated from the lit diyas, and there were no signs of forced entry. Investigations are ongoing.”
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