In April 2008, Hindu devotees gathered in Frisco to witness guru Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji bless land for what would become the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple. At that time, the area was still largely undeveloped, with empty fields and gravel roads. The temple has since grown to accommodate up to 1,600 worshippers, becoming one of the largest Hindu temples in the United States. The surrounding neighborhood has also seen an influx of Indian American residents, many drawn to the temple.
However, the community has recently faced challenges, including protests against the temple. In November, demonstrators showed up with megaphones and signs, some quoting Scripture and others displaying messages like "Don’t India My Texas." In response, some local residents staged counterprotests, demonstrating support for the temple and its community. Laxmi Tummala, a trustee of the temple, noted that love quickly triumphed over hate during these events.
Despite these moments of support, the broader atmosphere in Frisco has shifted. The city, which has a population of approximately 237,000, with one-third being Asian—primarily Indian Americans—has seen a rise in anti-Indian sentiment. Online attacks against Indian Americans have surged, often from individuals outside the city. Frisco mayoral candidate Rod Vilhauer made controversial remarks comparing immigrants to rats and suggested that Indian American political influence could challenge the local culture, garnering 31 percent of the primary vote in May.
Indian Americans have settled in Texas since the late 1960s, often finding success in the hotel industry and technology sectors. However, incidents of racism have become more pronounced, as highlighted by an assault on an Indian American woman and her friends in Plano in 2022. Bidisha Rudra, who moved to North Texas in 2004, expressed that while racism may have always existed, it has become more overt in recent years.
The backlash against the Indian American community has become particularly visible in Frisco, which has transformed from a rural town into a burgeoning economic hub over the past three decades. Many Indian Americans view Frisco as home, while some nativist groups perceive it as being overtaken by outsiders. The evolving dynamics in Frisco reflect broader trends of rising nativism and discrimination against Indian Americans in Texas.
