Hinduism in Denmark

Last updated
Denmark Hindus
Hindu goddess Kali, National Museum, Copenhagen (4) (36267291691).jpg
Hindu goddess Kali, National Museum, Copenhagen
Total population
40,000 (2022)
(0.5%) of total population
Regions with significant populations
Copenhagen, Aarhus
Religions
Hinduism
Languages
Sacred
Sanskrit
Majority
Hindi, Tamil

Hinduism is a minority faith in Denmark. There are 40,000 (0.5%) Hindus in Denmark as of 2020. [1]

Contents

History

The first Hindus of Sri Lankan Tamil origin came in 1983 because of the escalating conflict in Sri Lanka. It was mostly men, and they were categorized as de facto refugees. Today they have married or have got the family, they had to leave for Denmark, and around half of the Tamils have been granted Danish citizenship.

Hindus of Sri Lankan Tamil origin have realized that there will not be any solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka in the near future, and they have begun to rebuild or reorganize some of their cultural and religious representations in Denmark, so they can cope with the requirements of the traditions and Danish society as well.[ citation needed ]

Demographics

Historical Population
YearPop.±%
201012,000    
201511,400−5.0%
201717,100+50.0%
202040,000+133.9%
Source: [2] [3]
YearPercentIncrease
20100.2%-
20150.2%-
20170.3%+0.1%
20200.5%+0.2%

According to an estimate there were about 12,000 Hindus in Denmark in 2010. [2]

Sri Lankan and Indian origin made up the most significant proportion of Hindus in Denmark, numbering approximately 18,000–19,000 individuals out of a total population of 5.7 million in 2017, Hindus constituted about 0.3 percent of the total population.

Hinduism is also represented among the ethnic Danish community. About 2,000 Danish ethnic origin, belong to Hindu-related groups and Hindu-inspired groups. [4]

Temples

There are five Hindu temples in Denmark. [2] In Denmark there are two consecrated Hindu temples: two dedicated to Vinayakar or the Ganesha and the other to the goddess Abirami apart from the ISKCON temples.

Community

There are 9 registered Hindu groups in Denmark, [5] among which, is the organisation Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. [6]

In 2011, a Hindu temple in Western Copenhagen was assaulted by a group of young Muslims, throwing stones and breaking windows. A single police officer arrived, took notice of the damage and left again. Half an hour later, a larger group of the same attackers arrived, again throwing stones, entering the garden and breaking all the bottom windows facing the street in the Tulasi room. [7] [ better source needed ] [8]

See also

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References

  1. "Religions in Denmark". Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  2. 1 2 3 "Denmark people receptive to Hinduism". oneindia.com. 2010-11-26. Archived from the original on 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  3. "Religions in Denmark". Archived from the original on 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  4. "Hinduism in Denmark - Hinduism - Oxford Bibliographies - obo". www.oxfordbibliographies.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  5. United States Department of State (2017). "DENMARK 2017 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT" (PDF). www.state.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  6. "Indians celebrate desi festivals in Denmark". The Times of India. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  7. Keralam, Haindava (2011-12-20). "Muslims attack Hare Krishna temple in Denmark". Haindava Keralam (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 2021-12-31. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
  8. "Muslims attack Hare Krishna temple in Denmark". en.europenews.dk. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2019-02-02.