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EPPING, NEW HAMPSHIRE, February 01, 2004: The aftermath of a New Year’s Eve fire that gutted the Saraswati Manidram Hindu Temple has Pandit Ramadheen Ramsamooj, the church’s leader, feeling both devastated by the loss and uplifted by the outpouring of community support–a support he did not realize was there until he and his congregation were struck by this tragedy. The two-alarm fire was apparently sparked by an electrical malfunction. While no one was injured, nothing, including ancient religious icons and artifacts, was spared from the blaze. But along with the loss comes a feeling of gain in the form of support from the community at large. “The response and the sympathy I’m getting from the community is heartwarming,” Ramsamooj said. “You know, we’ve lived here seven years now in Epping, and we’ve lived in such a way as not to interfere with the community–not get actively involved in politics. We came here simply to worship, to pray and be a good neighbor. We really never talked to people, but people have had so much love and respect for us (in the wake of the fire),” he added. Ramsamooj’s congregation has received donations from other religious groups in the community, including St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church in Sanbornville. Ramsamooj has also received donations and other assistance from the Epping Neighborhood Crime Watch, Epping residents, and Saint Peter’s Church in Epping. Members of his own congregation have also pledged money for the reconstruction. Ramsamooj estimates the reconstruction will cost roughly US$500,000. Saraswati Mandiram is a Hindu organization that was established in Massachusetts in July 1990.

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