ADVERTISEMENTs
Diaspora mourns Pahalgam attack victims at Silicon Valley vigil
The attack, which claimed the lives of at least 28 Hindu pilgrims and left over 20 injured, sent shockwaves through global Indian and interfaith communities.
-
Staff Reporter
- Thu, 01, May 2025
- 15:13 EDT
- 135
.jpeg)
Diaspora communities and civic officials mourn the loss of Pahalgam victims. / HSS Bay Area
In a powerful display of unity and grief, over 350 members of the Indian diaspora, civic officials, and interfaith leaders gathered at San Jose City Hall for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, India.
The vigil, organized by Hindu and Jewish organizations, was marked by emotional speeches, solemn prayers, and calls for justice. Prasanna Kulkarni introduced the participating groups and dignitaries, including public representatives from across Bay Area cities.
Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen condemned the violence, stating, “There are people crying today in Kashmir in India. Terror had no border and there should be no border when handing punishment to those evil men in the world.” He called on Americans to empathize with global tragedies as they do with local ones.
Tom Pyke, speaking on behalf of Congressman Ro Khanna, emphasized continued U.S.–India cooperation to uphold justice, saying the perpetrators must be brought to account.
Assemblyman Patrick Ahrens (District 26) highlighted the growing alliances between Bay Area Hindus and Jews. Dorene Kastleman of the Jewish Democratic Coalition and Gillie Yahalom from the Bay Area Jewish Coalition echoed this solidarity, vowing unwavering support against religious extremism.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Fremont school trustee Rinu Nair, Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano, and Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan expressed condolences and condemned terrorism. Ashwini Kulkarni called for global recognition of the ideology behind such attacks, referencing the long history of Islamist extremism across the globe.
Narayanananda, a monk from Balaji Temple, led the concluding prayers with the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra, invoking peace for the departed souls.
Several leaders who could not attend shared written messages. Cupertino Mayor Liang Chao, Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein, Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert, and Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor issued strong condemnations and reaffirmed their commitment to religious harmony and justice.
The event saw participation from over 30 civic bodies and organizations including Americans for Hindus (A4H), Hindu American Foundation (HAF), Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), CoHNA, VHPA, Balaji Temple, and the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), among others.
The vigil not only mourned the innocent lives lost but served as a collective stand against terrorism and religious hatred across the globe.
Related
.png)
.png)
.png)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login