Hinduism in England

Last updated

Historical Population
YearPop.±%
2001 546,982    
2011 806,199+47.4%
2021 1,020,533+26.6%
Religious Affiliation was not recorded prior to 2001.

Hinduism in England is the third largest religion in the country, with over 1,020,533 followers as of the 2021 census. This represents over 1.8% of the English population, up from 1.5% in 2011 and 1.1% in 2001. Hindus are predominantly in the cities of London and Leicester, where they make up greater proportions of the population. England has a number of Hindu temples, including the Hindu temple at Neasden which is a large Hindu temple in Europe. [1] In 2007, the largest Hindu Mandir in the North of England, [2] the Bradford Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple opened in Bradford, [3] West Yorkshire.

Contents

History

Hinduism has been in England since the early 19th century. Occasionally there were Hindu scholars, philosophers, reformers and also visitors from the princely states of India. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (born in India in 1772) was founder of a Hindu reform movement in India. He was in England in 1829 to visit his Christian friends. He also had audience with King William IV. Roy died in Stapleton, Bristol four years later.

The orientalist and reformer Sir R.G. Bhandarkar visited London in 1874. In 1879 Aurobindo went to England as a boy with his two brothers to study, living in Manchester, London (St. Paul's School) and Cambridge (King's College) where he stayed until 1893. Swami Vivekananda visited England in 1895 and 1896, having addressed the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. [4] In England Vivekananda's talk on Hindu philosophy and particularly on Vedanta deeply influenced Miss Margaret Elizabeth Noble, who was later known as Sister Nivedita. [5]

Early Hindus in England were usually students. Rabindranath Tagore (later a Nobel Laureate) went to England in 1878, returning to India in 1880. Fifty years later Tagore was at Oxford [6] delivering Hibbert Lectures (1930) on the Religion of Man. [7] Ramanujan, a mathematical genius and an orthodox Hindu, spent almost five years (1914–19) at Cambridge University. Professor Sir Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at the University of Oxford from 1939 until 1952. Hinduism had already received widespread attention in the Victorian era largely due to the work of the Theosophical Society and emergence of the new field, Indology. In 1878 Max Muller, an Indologist, delivered inaugural Hibbert Lectures at Oxford on the Religions of India.

In 1929 Dr. Hari Prasad Shastri (1882-1956), [8] who was a highly learned teacher (Acharya) of Adhyatma Yoga in India, went to England having taught for many years in Japan at Imperial and Waseda Universities and then in China also as a professor of philosophy. Hari Prasad Shastri founded Shanti Sadan [9] (temple of inner peace) in London. Trevor Leggett, an English Judo teacher, met Shastri in 1936. He was deeply influenced by Hari Prasad Shastri's yoga teachings.

In 1935 Paramahansa Yogananda visited England, returning from the USA. In London he addressed a large meeting at Caxton Hall introduced by Sir Francis Younghusband. He again visited England in 1936 addressing more meetings and especially a large gathering at Whitefield Congregational Church, organised by the British National Council of the World Fellowship of Faiths. A Self-Realization Fellowship Centre in London was formed after Yogananda's departure. In his autobiography Yogananda commented that the 'English tenacity has an admirable expression in a spiritual relationship'. [10]

There have been three waves of migration of Hindus to England. The first wave was before India's Independence in 1947. Before the second world war Hindu migration to England was minuscule and largely temporary. During the post-war era, economic conditions compelled many Indians including Hindus to leave their country in search of better opportunities. The fact that Indians, as Commonwealth citizens, didn't require a visa to enter or live in the United Kingdom was a factor. In the early 1960s, in order to save the NHS, the Conservative Health Minister The Rt Hon Enoch Powell recruited a large number of doctors including Hindus from the Indian sub-continent

The second wave of migration occurred in the 1970s after Idi Amin's expulsion of Gujarati and other Asians (who were British Overseas Citizens) from Uganda. Initially, Hindu Immigration was limited to Punjabis and Gujaratis. Later Hindu communities from other regions of the Indian sub-continent and countries like Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius and Fiji could be found in England.

The last wave of migration began in the 1990s with two types of people settling in England – Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka and professionals including doctors and software engineers from India.

Demographics

Geographical Distribution

According to the 2011 Census of England, there are some 806,199 Hindus living there. [11] The two major cities of Hindus are London and Leicester. [12] Within London, Hinduism is found in Brent and Harrow where Hindus make up a fifth of the population, and to a lesser extent, in Southall, Hounslow, Ilford, East Ham, Croydon, Hendon, and Wembley. Outside London, Leicester has a significant concentration of Hindus, largely from East Africa and India, with over 45,000 living in the city. [13]

British Hindus by English Region
Region 2021 [14] 2011 [15] 2001 [16]
Number%Number%Number%
Greater London 453,0345.1%411,2915.0%291,9774.1%
South East 154,7481.7%92,4991.1%44,5750.6%
East Midlands 120,3452.5%89,7232.0%66,7101.6%
West Midlands 88,1161.5%72,2471.3%56,6681.1%
East 86,6311.4%54,0100.9%31,3860.6%
North West 49,7490.7%38,2590.5%27,2110.4%
Yorkshire and the Humber 29,2430.5%24,0740.5%15,7970.3%
South West 27,7460.5%16,3240.3%8,2880.2%
North East 10,9240.4%7,7720.3%4,3700.2%
Flag of England.svg  England 1,020,5331.8%806,1991.5%546,9821.1%

Ethnic group

British Hindus by Ethnic group
Ethnic group 2001 2011 2021
Number%Number%Number%
Asian528,52196.62771,49695.70954,90093.57
Indian 462,09784.48613,80276.14846,41279.62
Bangladeshi 1,6860.313,9660.496,1650.60
Pakistani 5400.103,8480.481,3910.14
Chinese 1510.032,7980.353280.03
– Other Asian64,04711.71147,08218.24158,43515.52
White6,9471.2711,6011.446,4550.63
British 5,5521.026,5520.814,7950.47
Irish 1440.032720.031930.02
Gypsy and Irish Traveller 980.01830.01
Roma 580.01
Other White 1,2510.234,6790.581,3260.13
Mixed5,6471.039,6361.2010,7941.06
– White and Asian3,4600.636,3110.787,8540.77
– White and Black Caribbean1410.033850.052060.02
– White and Black African1660.033330.042050.02
– Other Mixed1,8800.342,6070.322,5290.25
Black2,9680.545,4140.671,8870.18
– African9840.181,8560.237050.07
Caribbean 1,6390.301,3140.167830.08
– Other Black3450.062,2440.283990.04
Other2,8990.538,0521.0047,4004.54
Arab 1,0250.131030.01
– Other Ethnic group2,8990.537,0270.8746,2974.53
TOTAL546,982100.0806,199100.01,020,533100.0

Hindu organisations

Gopuram and vimana at Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple United Kingdom Gopuram and vimana at Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple United Kingdom.jpg
Gopuram and vimana at Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple United Kingdom

Many regional umbrella organisations have been set up to bring local Hindu organisations in a town or region together to engage with local government. These include the Hindu Council of Brent, Hindu Council of Harrow, Hindu Council of Birmingham and the Hindu Council of the North.

At the more local level, Hindus have many organisations that are based on community or linguistic identities. They usually cater to the cultural and community needs of a particular Hindu denomination or sub-community. Examples of such organisations include the Arya Samaj, Brahmin Society North London, Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community, Great Prajapati Association, International Punjabi Society, South Indian Association, Maharashtra Mandal of London and many others. They usually operate from own or rented premises and arrange large festivals and events, besides providing services to their communities, including religious discourses, match-making services, weddings and others.

There are a number of Hindu organisations that provide various services to different audiences in the fields of education, health care, counselling, advocacy and other areas. These include the Chinmaya Mission, which offers classes on the Hindu Scriptures, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, ISKCON Educational Services, City Hindus Network, National Hindu Students' Forum (UK) and the International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation.

Temples

The Swaminarayan Temple at Neasden, London which is the largest Hindu Temple in Europe Neasden Temple - Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir - Power Plant.jpg
The Swaminarayan Temple at Neasden, London which is the largest Hindu Temple in Europe

There are over 150 Hindu temples in England which provide a wide range of services to different communities within the Hindu community. Some of the larger and more famous temples include the Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, the Bhaktivedanta Manor (Hare Krishna) Temple in Letchmore Heath near Watford, the Balaji Temple in Birmingham, the Sanatan Mandir in Leicester, the Vishwa Hindu Mandir in Southall, the Murugan Temple in Manor Park and the Gujarat Hindu Society Krishna Temple in Preston. There are also 6 Shri Swaminarayan Temples in different areas of London, not to be confused with the famous Swaminarayan Neasden Temple.

The temples are centres of excellence where the community regularly congregates to worship, learn and socialise. In addition to large festivals like the Janmashtami festival at Bhaktivedanta Manor which attracts 80,000 visitors or the Diwali festival at Neasden which attracts 50,000 people, many temples provide services like weddings, Hindu sacraments, language classes, further education, computer classes, yoga, counselling and various other services.

In 2008, a campaign was launched to raise funds to establish a temple to serve the 2,500 Hindus in Oxfordshire. [17]

In 2020, Historic England (HE) published A Survey of Hindu Buildings in England with the aim of providing information about buildings that Hindus use in England so that HE can work with communities to enhance and protect those buildings now and in the future. The scoping survey identified 187 Hindu temples in England. [18]

Encyclopedia of Hinduism

The Encyclopedia of Hinduism was unveiled in October 2014 by the British Prime Minister David Cameron at a Diwali function held in London at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre near Westminster. The function was hosted by Lord Andrew Feldman, the Chairman of the Conservative Party and attended by more than 1000 guests. PM Cameron and his wife Samantha lit a ceremonial diya at the event. [19]

Hindu schools

Krishna Avanti Primary School in Harrow is the first state-funded Hindu school in England was approved in 2005, [20] to be run by the Avanti Schools Trust. [21] Construction of the £10 Million Krishna Avanti Primary School in Edgware, north west London, began in 2008 with the first pupils starting later that year in temporary accommodation. [22] In total there are 6 Hindu schools in England.

See also

Related Research Articles

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Hinduism:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London</span> Hindu temple

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple in Neasden, London, England. Built entirely using traditional methods and materials, the Swaminarayan mandir has been described as being Britain's first authentic Hindu temple. It was also Europe's first traditional Hindu stone temple, as distinct from converted secular buildings. It is a part of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) organisation and was inaugurated in 1995 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The temple complex also consists of a permanent exhibition entitled "Understanding Hinduism" and a cultural centre housing an assembly hall, gymnasium, bookshop, and offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha</span> Hindu denomination within the Swaminarayan Sampradaya

Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha is a Hindu denomination within the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. It was formed in 1905 by Yagnapurushdas following his conviction that Swaminarayan remained present on earth through a lineage of gurus starting with Gunatitanand Swami. As of August 2016, Mahant Swami Maharaj is the 6th guru and president of BAPS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in the United States</span>

Hinduism is the fourth-largest religion in the United States, comprising 1% of the population, the same as Buddhism and Islam. The majority of American Hindus are immigrants, mainly from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean, with a minority from Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Canada, Africa, Europe, Oceania, and other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rama Tirtha</span> Indian teacher of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta

Swami Rama Tirtha, also known as Ram Soami, was an Indian teacher of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta. He was among the first notable teachers of Hinduism to lecture in the United States, travelling there in 1902, preceded by Swami Vivekananda in 1893 and followed by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920. During his American tours Swami Rama Tirtha spoke frequently on the concept of "practical Vedanta" and education of Indian youth. He proposed bringing young Indians to American universities and helped establish scholarships for Indian students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in the United Kingdom</span>

Hinduism is the third-largest religious group in the United Kingdom, after Christianity and Islam; the religion is followed by over one million people representing around 1.6% of the total population. According to the 2021 United Kingdom census Hindus are primarily concentrated in England, particularly in Greater London and the South East, with just under 50,000 Hindus residing in the three other nations of the United Kingdom. Hindus have had a presence in the United Kingdom since the early 19th century, as at the time India was part of the British Empire. Many Indians in the British Indian Army settled in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in New Zealand</span> Ethnic group

Hinduism is the second largest religion in New Zealand. It is also one of the fastest-growing religions in New Zealand. According to the 2018 census, Hindus form 2.65% of the population of New Zealand. There are about 123,534 Hindus in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in Belgium</span>

Hinduism is a minority religion in Belgium. According to the PEW 2014, Hinduism is also the fastest growing religion in Belgium. Attempts have been done by the Hindu Forum of Belgium (HFB) to make Hinduism an officially-recognized religion in Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avanti Schools Trust</span>

Avanti Schools Trust is the sponsor of state-funded Hindu faith schools in the United Kingdom. The I-Foundation is a Hindu and ISKCON charity in England and Wales that is the religious authority governing schools run by the Avanti Schools Trust.

Swaminarayan Sampradaya Hindu sect founded in 1801 by Sahajanand Swami

The Swaminarayan Sampradaya, also known as Swaminarayan Hinduism and Swaminarayan movement, is a Hindu Vaishnava sampradaya rooted in Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, characterized by the worship of its charismatic founder Sahajanand Swami, better known as Swaminarayan (1781–1830), as an avatar of Krishna or as the highest manifestation of Purushottam, the supreme God. According to the tradition's lore, both the religious group and Sahajanand Swami became known as Swaminarayan after the Swaminarayan mantra, which is a compound of two Sanskrit words, swami and Narayan.

The Swaminarayan School was a private Hindu school, the first in Europe. It was located in Neasden, London opposite the Swaminarayan Mandir, Hindu temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Govardhan Puja</span> Hindu festival

Govardhan Puja, also known as Annakut or Annakoot, is a Hindu festival celebrated on the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kartika, on the fourth day of Diwali. Devotees worship Govardhan Hill and prepare and offer a large variety of vegetarian food to Krishna as a mark of gratitude. For Vaishnavas, this day commemorates the incident in the Bhagavata Purana when Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill to provide the villagers of Vrindavan shelter from torrential rains. This incident symbolizes God offering protection to devotees who take singular refuge in him. Devotees offer a mountain of food, metaphorically representing the Govardhan Hill, to God as a ritual remembrance and to renew their faith in taking refuge in God. The festival is observed by most Hindu denominations all over India and abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in Wales</span>

Hinduism is a minority religion in Wales constituting 0.4% of its population. Under half of Welsh Hindus settled there in the second half of the 20th century.

The Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir is the name of two Hindu temples in London, one situated off the Ealing Road in Wembley, in the Brent and the other in Whipps Cross in Waltham Forest near Leytonstone. They are run by charity Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.

Hinduism in Los Angeles made its first significant impact in the late 19th century when wandering Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, came on his second visit to the United States. Swami Paramananda, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda, founded the Vedanta centres in Los Angeles and Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in the Republic of Ireland</span>

Hinduism is a minority religion in Ireland, followed by 0.7% of the country's population. It is also the second fastest-growing religions by percentage in Ireland. There are also a small number of recognised temples in the country.

References

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  2. largest mandir in the North to open in Bradford
  3. details of opening ceremony
  4. Romain Rolland (1997), The life of Vivekananda and the Universal Gospel (translated from the original French by E.F. Malcolm-Smith), page 86, fifteenth impression published by Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta (first published in 1931).
  5. Pravrajika Atmaprana (1992), Sister Nivedita of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, page 5, published by Sister Nivedita Girls' School, 5 Nivedita Lane, Calcutta 3 (first published in 1961).
  6. Sen K. M. (1961), Hinduism, The World's Oldest Faith, page 109, Penguin Books, London, England
  7. Tagore, Rabindranath (1963), The Religion of Man, Unwin Books, London England (first published in 1931)
  8. "Hari Prasad Shastri: Life and Work". www.worldwisdom.com. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  9. "Center of Non Duality | Advaita Vedanta | London". Shanti Sadan. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  10. Paramahansa Yogananda (1986), Autobiography of a Yogi (sixth impression), pages 360, 465, published by Jaico Books, Bombay (first Indian edition in English was puiblished in 1963).
  11. 2011 Census: Religion, local authorities in England and Wales: Table KS209EW
  12. Minority religions mainly in London. National Statistics. Accessed 5 Jun 2006.
  13. BBC News 28 September 2003
  14. "TS030 - Religion Edit query". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  15. "KS209EW (Religion) - Nomis - 2011". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  16. "KS007 - Religion - Nomis - 2001". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  17. Hindu worshippers in first prayer BBC News, 15 September 2008
  18. Singh, Jasjit; Tomalin, Emma (2020). "A Survey of Hindu Buildings in England. Historic England Research Report 203/2020". research.historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. Joanna Sugden (reported by), Britain's PM David Cameron Unveils Encyclopedia of Hinduism, The Wall Street Journal, 28 October 2014.
  20. First UK Hindu school in London BBC News, 12 October 2005
  21. "North London Hindu school will be 'the first of many'". BBC. 25 April 2020.
  22. Hindu state school beginning work BBC News, 6 June 2008