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Total population | |
---|---|
Around 800,000 (2022); 0.4% of total population | |
Regions with significant populations | |
All Over Nigeria specially in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Ogbomosho, Ibadan and Kano. | |
Religions | |
Hinduism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Indians in Nigeria and Hindus |
Hinduism spread to Nigeria mainly by arrival of Hindus from India and by way of ISKCON. Sindhis were the first to arrive in Nigeria in the early part of the nineteenth century. Initially, they were primarily engaged in trading but gradually, while retaining their interest in trading, they ventured into other fields such as manufacturing and professional services. In succeeding decades, they made substantial investments, aggregating more than US$4 billion. Sindhi names like Chellaram, Bhojson, Chandrai etc are well known in Nigeria. [1] Indian Sindhis run Superstores and are in the textiles sector, as well as in pharmaceuticals, fishing and engineering industries. Around 1 million Indians live in Nigeria. [2]
Nigeria has around 800,000 Indian-Nigerians [3] with Indians being the largest racial minority in the country. Most of the Indian community in Nigeria is Hindu.
India and Nigeria were both part of the British Empire. Indians were brought to Africa by the British to build the rail network in Africa. However, most of the Indian population, along with other foreigners from across the Empire, fled to either the United Kingdom, the United States, or back to their country of origin during the Nigerian Civil War. With a fast rising and booming economy that ranks the fifth largest in the world today India has invested over USD 15 billion in Nigeria. There are over 85 well known Indian firms that have set up business in Nigeria creating jobs and opportunities for Nigerians. [4]
Starting from the 1970s, the Nigerian government and several private firms began to hire Indian doctors, teachers, engineers and other professionals. Towards the end of the 1980s, many of the Indian experts returned to India when, with the substantial reduction in the country’s oil revenues, the country began to face severe economic problems, unemployment and poverty.
The Government of Nigeria follows a liberal and non-discriminatory policy in the granting of citizenship to resident foreign nationals.
Some native Nigerians converted to Hinduism mainly due to efforts of ISKCON. Although most Nigerian Hindus are based in Lagos (Ikorodu, Shomolu, Alimosho, Victoria Island), others are also found in Ibadan (where the Sri Sathya Sai Seva (Service) Organization of Sathya Sai Baba was established in 1972) [5]
ISKCON inaugurated the Vedic Welfare Complex in Apapa, Lagos, launched by the Hare Krishna group in Nigeria. [6]
Sri Sathya Sai Seva (Service) Organization was established in 1972 as a public, charitable trust to carry out the mission of Sathya Sai Baba; providing drinking water, medicine and education to everyone free of charge. [7] A central meeting place named Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre was built in Ibadan and registered as a non-profit spiritual organization. The site was leased for 99 years with funding from various donors[ citation needed ]. In Lagos, Sai activities were started in a private house on Victoria Island. [8]
Hinduism is a minority religion in South America, which is followed by even less than 1% of the total continent's population. Hinduism is found in several countries, but is strongest in the Indo-Caribbean populations of Guyana and Suriname. There are about 320,000 Hindus in South America, chiefly the descendants of Indian indentured laborers in the Guianas. There are about 185,000 Hindus in Guyana, 120,000 in Suriname, and some others in French Guiana. In Guyana and Suriname, Hindus form the second largest religion and in some regions and districts, Hindus form the majority. Though in recent times, due to influence of Hindu culture the number of Hindus converts have increased in other countries in South America, including Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and others.
Hinduism has been spread in Russia primarily due to the work of scholars from the religious organization International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and by itinerant Swamis from India and small communities of Indian immigrants. While ISKCON appears to have a relatively strong following in Russia, the other organizations in the list have a marginal presence in this country. There is an active Tantra Sangha operating in Russia. According to the 2012 official census, there are 140,010 Hindus in Russia, which accounts for 0.1% of the population of Russia.
Hinduism is a minor religious faith in Finland.
Hinduism is a minority religion constituting about 0.15% of the population of Austria. Hinduism is not one of the 16 recognised religions in Austria. The Austrian law allows religious groups not recognized as societies to seek official status as confessional communities with the Office for Religious Affairs. Hinduism is one of the eight confessional communities in Austria. However, the Sahaja Yoga and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness are categorised as associations, not as confessional communities.
Hinduism is a minority religion practised by 0.3% of the population of Botswana. The practice of Hinduism in Botswana is concentrated in and around Gaborone and Selebi-Phikwe. The community of Hindus began to form in the early 20th century with the beginning of immigration from India to Botswana. Most Hindus in Botswana are of Indian descent.
There is relatively little history of active practice of Hinduism in Romania, although many prominent Romanian thinkers have had an interest in Hindu thought, and since the Romanian Revolution of 1989 there have been some converts through the work of International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Hare Krishna devotee provide free food for life program and other cultural festivals around the country. Every year Hare Krishna devotee organise Rath Yatra of Lord Jagganath and thousands of people participate in the Rath Yatra.
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.
The Sathya Sai Baba movement is a new religious movement inspired by South Indian Neo-Hindu guru Sathya Sai Baba who taught the unity of all religions. Some of his followers have faith in his claim to be a purna Avatar of Shiva and Shakti, who is believed to have been predicted in the Bhagavad Gita. This means that some of his followers see him as a God. Devotees engage in singing devotional songs called "bhajans" and selfless service (seva). Its official organization is the Sathya Sai Organization. However the Sathya Sai Baba movement extends beyond the organization. An important aspect of the faith of adherents is the miracles attributed to Sathya Sai Baba. The number of adherents is estimated between 6 and 100 million.
Hinduism was first introduced by Sindhi settlers who migrated to Ghana after India was divided in 1947. It was spread to Ghana actively by Ghana's Hindu Monastery headed by Swami Ghananand Saraswati and by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Hinduism is one of the fastest growing religions in Ghana.
Hinduism is a minority religion in Slovenia. ISKCON was registered in Slovenia in 1983 and The Hindu Religious Community in Slovenia was registered in 2003 in Ljubljana
Hinduism in Israel refers to the Hindu population in Israel. In 2020, about 0.1% of Israel's population were Hindus.
Hinduism is a minority religion and a fairly recent development in Lithuania. Hinduism is spread in Lithuania by Hindu organizations: ISKCON, Sathya Sai Baba, Brahma Kumaris and Osho Rajneesh. As of 2015, there were 580 (0.02%) Hindus in Lithuania.
Hinduism in Greece has a small following. On March 1, 2006, the Greek government passed a law allowing cremation. This law was welcomed by the Indian community in Athens. In 2012, there were about 20,000 Hindus in Greece.
Hinduism in North Macedonia is mainly represented by the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON) and the Sathya Sai Baba Organisation. ISKCON and the Satya Sai Baba-Centre have been registered in Macedonia as a part of the Oriental religion.
The reception of Hinduism in the Western world began in the 19th century, at first at an academic level of religious studies and antiquarian interest in Sanskrit.
Hinduism in Panama is a minority religion. There are about 14,000 (0.32%) Hindus in Panama as of 2021.
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