08/28/2026
A Message of Condolence from the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple of Utah and the India Cultural Center of Utah
It is with profound sorrow that we join the world in mourning the devastating flash floods of August 26 that swept through the Himalayan border region of Nepal and Tibet. Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple of Utah and the India Cultural Center of Utah extends deepest condolences to all people and families who have lost loved ones or been impacted by this tragedy.
The floods struck hardest in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, with damage extending downstream into Dhading and surrounding areas, and across the border into the Gyirong region of Tibet. Hundreds of lives have been lost, many remain missing, and entire villages along the Trishuli River have been destroyed. The scale of this tragedy is difficult to comprehend.
Among those lost and missing are pilgrims who were traveling through this sacred corridor when disaster struck. This region is a gateway to some of the holiest sites of our tradition — including the route to Kailash Mansarovar and the sacred lakes of Gosainkunda — and we grieve for these devotees and their families, whose journey of faith ended in unimaginable tragedy.
To our Nepali and Himalayan brothers and sisters here in Utah who are anxiously awaiting word from loved ones back home: your grief is our grief. These sacred mountains and the people who call them home hold a cherished place in our shared spiritual and cultural heritage, and in this moment of loss, we stand with you as one family.
We pray for the souls of those who have departed, for strength and healing for the injured and bereaved, and for the safety of the rescue workers laboring in the affected valleys.
We invite our entire community — of all faiths and backgrounds — to join us for a special prayer gathering in remembrance of the victims and in solidarity with all affected communities, on Sunday, August 30, at 10:30 AM at the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple of Utah. Together, we will offer prayers for the departed and for the healing of all affected families.
May the divine grant peace to the departed and courage to those left behind.
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
