BY LARRY RAMER
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — A local Hindu temple and cultural center is collecting donations to help Indian victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami that struck nations throughout the Indian Ocean region.
More than 150,000 people throughout that region are reported to have been killed in the tragedy. Estimates are that about 10,000 people in India were killed and thousands were left to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.
The Hindu American Temple and Cultural Center of Marlboro (HATCC), Wooleytown Road, has already collected money and goods that will be used to help Indians who have been affected by the natural disaster, said Rajagopan Unbarrajan, a priest and member of the board of directors. The temple and cultural center, which is attended by more than 200 families, is continuing to accept monetary donations that will be used to help Indian victims of the tragedy, he said.
People from many religious groups and ethnic backgrounds have donated to the Indian tsunami victims through the HATCC, Rajagopan said.
“We thank all the American religious communities who are helping,” the priest said.
Since Indians who live near the affected region have already donated basic supplies such as food and clothing, relief organizations are asking for monetary donations that will allow them to buy other products for the tsunami victims,
Rajagopan explained.
The money collected by temple and cultural center will be donated to the Indian Development and Relief Fund in Maryland. Information about that organization can be obtained at the Internet Web site www.idrf.org.
In addition to contributing money and supplies to the tsunami victims, the members of the temple are praying for the people who were devastated by the disaster, Rajagopan said.
“On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 more than 1,000 people came [to the temple] and prayed for all the people caught in this tragedy,” the priest explained.
On Jan. 23, the temple will hold another prayer service for the tsunami victims.
“This is a very sad, big tragedy,” the priest said. “All the people in our congregation are very shocked. We are praying that in the coming year God will give peace and goodness to all the people affected by this disaster.”
People who are interested in donating to Indian tsunami victims through the Hindu American Temple and Cultural Center of Marlboro may call (732) 972- 5552.