The Triangle is home to thousands of people from India, and many of them have lived in Mumbai -- or Bombay, as it used to be called. 

At the Hindu Society in Morrisville, Indians spent their Thanksgiving morning praying for the dead half a world away. 

"It was so hard to even think of how somebody could do such a bad thing," said Saroj Sharma, a religious advisor with the Society. 

The Indian community reacted quickly to the attacks; many people were making late-night phone calls to check on loved ones. 

"We have so many relatives, you know, but they are all OK," said Sharma. 

Shivananda Bhat, a Hindu priest, said he was grateful to finally get a hold of his nephew, who lives in Mumbai: "I call him and ask him 'How are you?' And he told me that he is safe."

Ganesh Iyer would probably not even be here if he had scheduled a later flight home; he was actually in Mumbai on business yesterday, and thinks he barely took off before all flights were grounded.

"About half an hour before the incident," said Iyer. "I didn't really quite know what happened until I reached New York."

Iyer says he's stayed at some of the upscale hotels that were targeted by terrorists, including the Taj Mahal.

"Five or six five-star hotels in Bombay that are frequently visited by people who are from outside: the US, the UK, on business," said Iyer.

He and others in the Indian community say the country needs to try and get back to normal quickly, and work on ways to prevent this type of attack from happening again.

To hear more from the local Indian community, click on the video players above.

Related Links

1. AP: Indian Commandoes Kill Last 3 Gunman At Hotel
2. WRAL: Seige Ends At Taj Mahal
3. WTVD: 3 American Injured In India Attack
4. News & Observer: Siege Ends At Mumbai's Taj Hotel