Hinduism in Seychelles

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Arulmigu Navashakti Vinayakar Temple in Victoria Hindu Temple Victoria Seychelles Islands of Africa.jpg
Arulmigu Navashakti Vinayakar Temple in Victoria

Hinduism in Seychelles is the second-largest religion after Christianity, with more than 5.4% of the population. [1] [2] The Hindu following in Seychelles has seen an increase in the community with the organization of the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam and the consecration of the Navasakti Vinayagar Temple. The increase in size and popularity of Hinduism caused the Government to declare Taippoosam Kavadi Festival a holiday.

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History of Hindus in Seychelles

In 1901, there were 332 Hindu families out of a population of 19,237 and roughly 3,500 Tamil-speaking people.

The organization of the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam in 1984 and the consecration of the Navasakti Vinayagar Temple in May 1992 were landmarks for the resurgence of Indian cultural activities apart from the religious awakening. [3]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1987 506    
1994 953+88.3%
2002 1,700+78.4%
2010 2,174+27.9%
2022 5,508+153.4%
YearPercentIncrease
19941.3%-
20022.1%0.8%
20112.4%0.3%
20225.4%3.0%

According to the 2022 Census, there were 5,508 Hindus in Seychelles constituting 5.4% its population. [1] This is an increase from 2,174 Hindus or 2.4 % from 2010 Census. [4] The 2002 census reported 1,700 Hindus constituting 2.1 % of the population. In 1994, there were 953 Hindus constituting 1.3 % of the country's population. [5]

Hindu population by region

Hindus form majority in the Outer Islands region. [1]

Region [1] Total

Population

Hindu

Population

Percentage of

Hindus

Central30,1451,0833.6
East-South27,0722,2298.2
West15,0583032
North17,8437974.5
Praslin7,8822072.6
La Digue & Inner Islands3,6241825
Outer Islands98870771.6

Hindu population by districts

Hindus form majority in the Outer Islands districts of Assumption, Coetivy, Darros, Farquhar, Marie-Louise, Platte, Poivre, Providence, Remire and these districts are exclusively populated by Hindus. Outside the Outer Islands, significant Hindu population is found in Cascade (20%), Takamaka (9%), Saint Louis (6.3%) etc [1]

Region [1] DistrictTotal

Population

Hindu

Population

Percentage of

Hindus

Central English River 3,5081243.5
Mont Buxton2,778471.7
Saint Louis3,2672056.3
Bel Air2,6191365.2
Mont Fleuri3,5061504.3
Plaisance3,6851253.4
Roche Caiman3,1572427.7
Les Mamelles2,215411.9
Ile Perseverance5,410130.2
East-South Cascade 6,6591,33720.1
Pointe Larue3,2671043.2
Anse Aux Pins3,898912.3
Anse Royale4,5521463.2
Takamaka 3,5283309.4
Au Cap5,1682214.3
WestBaie Lazare4,265751.8
Anse Boileau4,595771.7
Grand Anse Mahé3,4251313.8
Port Glaud2,773200.7
NorthBelombre3,8231263.3
Beau Vallon4,7401583.3
Glacis3,803711.9
Anse Etoile5,4774428.1
PraslinBaie Ste Anne4,2721222.9
Grand Anse Praslin3,610852.4
La Digue & Inner IslandsBird100
Denis8600
Fregate1300
La Digue3,1331595.1
North881011.4
Silhouette303134.3
Outer IslandsAldabra300
Alphonse1121311.6
Assumption77100
Coetivy2222100
Darros 110110100
Desroches33816247.9
Farquhar171482.4
Marie-Louise88100
Platte353353100
Poivre99100
Providence55100
Remire44100

Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam

The Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam, over a short span of seventeen years, has successfully established and entrenched some strong foundations for the preservation, consolidation and further flowering of the Hindu culture. The ever-popular kavadi festival and special Hindu festivals are covered in Tamil and English in the national media and there is a wide coverage of such events over national radio and television.

Arulmigu Navasakti Vinayagar Temple

Thiru Navasakthi Vinayakar Kovil Victoria Thiru Navasakthi Vinayakar Kovil Victoria.jpg
Thiru Navasakthi Vinayakar Kovil Victoria

The Arulmigu Navasakti Vinayagar Temple is the first and the only Hindu temple in Seychelles that has Ganesha as the presiding deity. Since 1999, Ganesha has been elevated to this position. Apart from the presiding deity, icons of Murugan, Nadarajah, Durga, Sreenivasa Perumal, Bhairawa and Chandekeswarar are enshrined in the inner mandapam of the temple. Prayers are performed for the different deities on special occasions.

Taippoosam Kavadi Festival, which began in Seychelles in the inner courtyard of the temple during 1993, is now conducted in the outer courtyard and a chariot kavadi is also taken out in procession. This festival has gained popularity as a national festival, so much so that as from 1998 the government has declared it a holiday for Hindus. [3]

Famous Seychelles Hindus

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Seychelles Population and Housing Census 2022". National Bureau of Statistics Seychelles. 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  2. "Seychelles". CIA – The World Factbook.
  3. 1 2 Vijaratnam Śivasupramaniam. "Taippoosam Kavadi Festival in Seychelles". murugan.org.
  4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-14. Retrieved 2013-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Housing and Population Census 2002" (PDF). Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  6. Devirupa Mitra. "Interview: 'Not in Favour of Any Foreign Military Base': Seychelles' First Hindu MP Sathya Naidu". The Wire. Retrieved 24 February 2021.[ permanent dead link ]