Hinduism in Martinique

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Hinduism is followed in Martinique by a small number of Indo-Martiniquais. As of 2007, Hinduism constituted 0.3% of the population of Martinique. [1]

Contents

History

After the abolition of slavery in 1848, plantation owners filled their need for laborers by importing Indians from the subcontinent, starting in 1853. These immigrants brought with them their Hindu religion. Many Hindu temples are still in use in Martinique and, in 1987, a personal description of their secret ceremonies was published by a Hindu participant.

The symbols, gestures and myths of Hinduism were an important inspiration to the French artist Paul Gauguin, who visited Martinique in 1887.

Demographics

Though Indo-Martiniquais comprise approximately 10% of the population of the island of Martinique, only a few 20-30% of them are still Hindus. Though, the number of Christians converting to Hinduism is steadily increasing with revival efforts. [2]

Hindus and quimboiseurs (another religion in Martinique) consider themselves also to be Catholic due to the lack of connection with the Hindus worldwide. [3] Maldevidan Spiritists is a syncretic religion in Martinique which combine aspects of the Hindu religion with Catholicism associating the principal deity, Maldevidan (Madurai Veeran), with Jesus Christ and the second most important deity, Mari-eman (Mariamman), with the Virgin Mary. This is common in the northern regions of the island with many shrines and gathering places throughout the region. Rituals include playing drums, dancing on sharpened machetes, and sacrificing animals such as roosters and sheep. [4]

Contemporary status

Hinduism in Martinique constitutes a variation of popular Tamil Hinduism, which was characterized by the practice of animal sacrifice, the veneration of village deities and the use of the Tamil language as the ceremonial language, although the language has lost its usage in the plantation and post-plantation society. [5]

The central figures of Hindus here are Hindu goddess Mariamman known locally as Mariémen and Madurai Veeran locally known as Madevilen. [6] There is a historic Hindu temple in Basse-Pointe in Martinique built in the 19th century, which is still in use. [7] [8]

In recent years there has been a revival of Hinduism in Martinique, including Hindu mela programmes. [9]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariamman</span> Hindu goddess of weather

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in the West Indies</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka</span> Tamil people of Indian origin in Sri Lanka

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariamman Temple, Samayapuram</span> Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Village deities of South India</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karuppuswamy</span> Tamil Hindu deity

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karakattam</span> Type of dance

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Index of Martinique-related articles</span>

Articles related to the French overseas department of Martinique include:

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalasha Valleys</span> Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dravidian folk religion</span> Indigenous Dravidian folk religion

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

Hinduism is a minority religion in Guadeloupe, followed by some Indo-Guadeloupeans. According to a statistics data, Hinduism is practised by 0.5% of the people in Guadeloupe.

Caribbean Shaktism, also known as Kalimai Dharma or Madras Religion in Guyana, refers to the syncretic Shakti Kali/Mariamman worship that has evolved within the Indo-Caribbean Tamil community in countries such as Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Jamaica and Suriname. It can be found across the Caribbean and any South American country with an Indo-Caribbean community. It is a syncretic blend of Dravidian folk religion and Hinduism and has also been influenced by other cultural and religious traditions found in the Caribbean such as Catholicism, Trinidad Orisha, Comfa and Obeah. It is considered to be a form of Folk Tamil Hinduism and many attend services of Vedic Origin, more Orthodox Tamil Origin, and Madrasi origin.

References

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  5. Taylor, Patrick; Case, Frederick I. (2013-04-30). The Encyclopedia of Caribbean Religions: Volume 1: A - L; Volume 2: M - Z. University of Illinois Press. ISBN   9780252094330.
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