Religion in the Punjab

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Religion in the Punjab in ancient history was characterized by Hinduism and later conversions to Jainism, Buddhism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity; it also includes folk practices common to all Punjabis regardless of the religion they adhere to. Such practices incorporate local mysticism, including ancestral worship and worship of local saints of all faiths. [1]

Contents

Religion in the Punjab
(2011 and 2017) [2] [3] [4] [lower-alpha 1]

   Islam (60.13%)
   Hinduism (28.54%)
   Sikhism (9.5%)
   Christianity (1.43%)
  Others (0.33%)

Background

Rig Veda is the oldest Hindu text that originated in the Punjab region. 1500-1200 BCE Rigveda, manuscript page sample i, Mandala 1, Hymn 1 (Sukta 1), Adhyaya 1, lines 1.1.1 to 1.1.9, Sanskrit, Devanagari.jpg
Rig Veda  is the oldest Hindu text that originated in the Punjab region.

Hinduism is the oldest of the religions practised by Punjabi people, however, the term Hindu was applied over a vast territory with much regional diversity. [5] The historical Vedic religion constituted the religious ideas and practices in the Punjab during the Vedic period (1500–500 BCE), centered primarily in the worship of Indra. [6] [7] [8] [note 1] The bulk of the Rigveda was composed in the Punjab region between circa 1500 and 1200 BC, [9] while later Vedic scriptures were composed more eastwards, between the Yamuna and Ganges rivers. An ancient Indian law book called the Manusmriti, developed by Brahmin Hindu priests, shaped Punjabi religious life from 200 BC onward. [10]

Later, the spread of Buddhisim and Jainism in the Indian subcontinent saw the growth of Buddhism and Jainism in the Punjab. [11] Islam was introduced via southern Punjab in the 8th century, becoming the majority by the 16th century, via local conversion. [12] [13] There was a small Jain community left in Punjab by the 16th century, while the Buddhist community had largely disappeared by the turn of the 10th century. [14] The region became predominantly Muslim due to missionary Sufi saints whose dargahs (shrines) dot the landscape of the Punjab region. [15]

The rise of Sikhism in the 1700s saw some Punjabis, both Hindu and Muslim, accepting the new Sikh faith. [10] [16] A number of Punjabis during the colonial period of India became Christians, with all of these religions characterizing the religious diversity now found in the Punjab region. [10]

History

Ancient period

The Persians were the first to use the term Hindu, referring to a vast territory containing much regional variety in belief and practice. Nevertheless, the common concept was the belief in cycles of reincarnation, or sansār, and was the oldest recorded religion in the region. [10] While law books like the Manusmriti codified socio-religious customs and were sanctified by the Hindu religion, such books more generally influenced the formation of broader traditional societal beliefs. [10]

Medieval period

Sikhism appeared in the 16th century, in reaction to both Punjabi and subcontinent-wide cultural practices of the time, [10] including asceticism, the caste system, and female subordination, as well as in congruence with it, sharing precepts with Hinduism, including karma , sansār, and liberation, and that with Islam, including a formless God, rejection of idolatry, and social equality. [10] It also developed its own distinct doctrines, including the belief that both intrinsic factors (egocentrism, to be ameliorated through devotion and prayer), and external forces (social and political oppression, to be addressed by community service and armed self-defense as needed, and balancing spiritual and temporal power in the world as opposed to renunciation), produced suffering. [10]

Modern period

During the colonial era, the practice of religious syncretism among Punjabi Muslims and Punjabi Hindus was noted and documented by officials in census reports:

"In other parts of the Province, too, traces of Hindu festivals are noticeable among the Muhammadans. In the western Punjab, Baisakhi, the new year's day of the Hindus, is celebrated as an agricultural festival, by all Muhammadans, by racing bullocks yoked to the well gear, with the beat of tom-toms, and large crowds gather to witness the show, The race is called Baisakhi and is a favourite pastime in the well-irrigated tracts. Then the processions of Tazias, in Muharram, with the accompaniment of tom-toms, fencing parties and bands playing on flutes and other musical instruments (which is disapproved by the orthodox Muhammadans) and the establishment of Sabils (shelters where water and sharbat are served out) are clearly influenced by similar practices at Hindu festivals, while the illuminations on occasions like the Chiraghan fair of Shalamar (Lahore) are no doubt practices answering to the holiday-making instinct of the converted Hindus." [17] : 174 
"Besides actual conversion, Islam has had a considerable influence on the Hindu religion. The sects of reformers based on a revolt from the orthodoxy of Varnashrama Dharma were obviously the outcome of the knowledge that a different religion could produce equally pious and right thinking men. Laxity in social restrictions also appeared simultaneously in various degrees and certain customs were assimilated to those of the Muhammadans. On the other hand the miraculous powers of Muhammadan saints were enough to attract the saint worshiping Hindus, to allegiance, if not to a total change of faith... The Shamsis are believers in Shah Shamas Tabrez of Multan, and follow the Imam, for the time being, of the Ismailia sect of Shias... they belong mostly to the Sunar caste and their connection with the sect is kept a secret, like Freemasonry. They pass as ordinary Hindus, but their devotion to the Imam is very strong." [17] : 130 

— Excerpts from the Census of India (Punjab Province), 1911 AD

Punjab region

Colonial era

Population trends for major religious groups in the Punjab Province of the British India (1881–1941) [18] [19] : 46 
Religious
group		Population
% 1881 [lower-alpha 2] 		Population
% 1891		Population
% 1901 [lower-alpha 2] 		Population
% 1911 [lower-alpha 2] 		Population
% 1921		Population
% 1931		Population
% 1941
Islam47.6%47.8%49.2%50.8%51.1%52.4%53.2%
Hinduism [lower-alpha 3] 43.8%43.6%41.8%36.3%35.1%31.7%30.1%
Sikhism8.2%8.2%8.5%11.9%12.4%14.3%14.9%
Christianity0.1%0.2%0.3%0.8%1.3%1.5%1.5%
Other religions / No religion0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%0.2%
Religious groups in Punjab Province (1881–1941)
Religious
group		1881 [20] [21] [22] [lower-alpha 2] 1901 [23] : 34  [lower-alpha 2] 1911 [24] : 27  [25] : 27  [lower-alpha 2] 1921 [26] : 29 1931 [27] : 277 1941 [19] : 42 
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 9,872,74512,183,34512,275,47712,813,38314,929,89618,259,744
Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] 9,095,17510,344,4698,773,6218,799,6519,018,50910,336,549
Sikhism Khanda.svg 1,706,1652,102,8962,883,7293,107,2964,071,6245,116,185
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 42,57249,98346,77541,32143,14045,475
Christianity Christian cross.svg 28,05466,591199,751332,939419,353512,466
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 3,2516,9407,6905,9127,753854
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 4134776535265694,359
Judaism Star of David.svg ——2454191339
Others5712013034,190
Total population20,748,43224,754,73724,187,75025,101,06028,490,85734,309,861

Modern era

Religious groups in the Punjab Region (2011 Census of India & 2017 Census of Pakistan) [2] [3] [4] [lower-alpha 1]
Religious
group		 Punjab
Region 		Punjab
(Pakistan) [2] 		Punjab (India) [3] Haryana [4] Delhi [4] Himachal
Pradesh [4] 		Islamabad [2] Chandigarh [4]
Total
Population		Percentage Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 114,130,322107,541,602535,4891,781,3422,158,684149,8811,911,87751,447
Hinduism Om.svg 54,159,083211,64110,678,13822,171,12813,712,1006,532,765737852,574
Sikhism Khanda.svg 18,037,312——16,004,7541,243,752570,58179,896——138,329
Christianity Christian cross.svg 2,715,9522,063,063348,23050,353146,09312,64686,8478,720
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 267,649——45,04052,613166,2311,805——1,960
Ahmadiyya Liwa-e-Ahmadiyya 1-2.svg 160,759158,021————————2,738——
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 139,019——33,2377,51418,44978,659——1,160
Others185,72015,32898,45044,76015,8038,9501,1691,260
Total population189,795,816109,989,65527,743,33825,351,46216,787,9416,864,6022,003,3681,055,450

West Punjab

Religion in West Punjab (1881–1941)
Religious
group		1881 [20] [21] [22] [28] [lower-alpha 4] 1901 [23] : 34  [29] : 62  [lower-alpha 5] 1911 [24] : 27  [25] : 27  [lower-alpha 6] 1921 [26] : 29  [lower-alpha 7] 1931 [27] : 277  [lower-alpha 8] 1941 [19] : 42  [lower-alpha 9]
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 6,201,8597,951,1558,494,3148,975,28810,570,02913,022,160
Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] 1,449,9131,944,3631,645,7581,797,1411,957,8782,373,466
Sikhism Khanda.svg 272,908483,999813,441863,0911,180,7891,520,112
Christianity Christian cross.svg 12,99242,371144,514247,030324,730395,311
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 4,3525,5625,9775,9306,9219,520
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 354300377309413312
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 061681723287
Judaism Star of David.svg ——9361667
Others21008019,128
Total Population7,942,39910,427,76511,104,58511,888,98514,040,79817,340,103
Territory comprises the contemporary subdivisions of Punjab, Pakistan and Islamabad Capital Territory.

East Punjab

Religion in East Punjab (1881–1941)
Religious
group		1881 [20] [21] [22] [28] [lower-alpha 10] [lower-alpha 2] 1901 [23] : 34  [29] : 62  [lower-alpha 11] [lower-alpha 2] 1911 [24] : 27  [25] : 27  [lower-alpha 12] [lower-alpha 2] 1921 [26] : 29  [lower-alpha 13] 1931 [27] : 277  [lower-alpha 14] 1941 [19] : 42  [lower-alpha 15]
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] 7,645,2628,400,1067,127,8637,002,5107,060,6317,963,083
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 3,670,8864,232,1903,781,1633,838,0954,359,8675,237,584
Sikhism Khanda.svg 1,433,2571,618,8972,070,2882,244,2052,890,8353,596,073
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 38,22044,42140,79835,39136,21935,955
Christianity Christian cross.svg 15,06224,22055,23785,90994,623117,155
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 3,2516,9347,5225,7407,721767
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 591772762171564,047
Judaism Star of David.svg ——15183732
Others361205015,062
Total Population12,806,03314,326,97213,083,16513,212,07514,450,05916,969,758
Territory comprises the contemporary subdivisions of Punjab, India, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.

Subregions

Following the creation of the North-West Frontier Province in 1901, the Punjab region (Punjab Province) was divided into four natural geographical divisions by colonial officials on the decadal census data: [17] : 2  [19] : 4 

  1. Indo−Gangetic Plain West geographical division (including Hisar district, Loharu State, Rohtak district, Dujana State, Gurgaon district, Pataudi State, Delhi, Karnal district, Jalandhar district, Kapurthala State, Ludhiana district, Malerkotla State, Firozpur district, Faridkot State, Patiala State, Jind State, Nabha State, Lahore District, Amritsar district, Gujranwala District, and Sheikhupura District);
  2. Himalayan geographical division (including Sirmoor State, Simla District, Simla Hill States, Bilaspur State, Kangra district, Mandi State, Suket State, and Chamba State);
  3. Sub−Himalayan geographical division (including Ambala district, Kalsia State, Hoshiarpur district, Gurdaspur district, Sialkot District, Gujrat District, Jhelum District, Rawalpindi District, and Attock District);
  4. North−West Dry Area geographical division (including Montgomery District, Shahpur District, Mianwali District, Lyallpur District, Jhang District, Multan District, Bahawalpur State, Muzaffargarh District, Dera Ghazi Khan District, and the Biloch Trans–Frontier Tract).

Throughout history, religious diversity has been noted across the Punjab region. During the colonial era, the various districts and princely states that made up each of the four geographical divisions were religiously eclectic, each containing significant populations of Punjabi Muslims, Punjabi Hindus, Punjabi Sikhs, Punjabi Christians, along with other ethnic and religious minorities.

However, between the censuses of 1941 and 1951, a sudden shift towards religious homogeneity occurred in all districts across Punjab owing to the new international border that cut through the province due to the partition of India in 1947. This rapid demographic shift was primarily as a consequence of wide scale migration but also caused by large-scale religious cleansing riots which were witnessed across the region at the time. According to historical demographer Tim Dyson, in the eastern regions of Punjab that ultimately became Indian Punjab following independence, districts that were 66% Hindu in 1941 became 80% Hindu in 1951; those that were 20% Sikh became 50% Sikh in 1951. Conversely, in the western regions of Punjab that ultimately became Pakistani Punjab, all districts became almost exclusively Muslim by 1951. [30]

Indo−Gangetic Plain West geographical division

Including Hisar district, Loharu State, Rohtak district, Dujana State, Gurgaon district, Pataudi State, Delhi, Karnal district, Jalandhar district, Kapurthala State, Ludhiana district, Malerkotla State, Firozpur district, Faridkot State, Patiala State, Jind State, Nabha State, Lahore District, Amritsar district, Gujranwala District, and Sheikhupura District. [19] : 48  [17] : 2 

Religious groups in the Indo—Gangetic Plain West geographical division of Punjab Province (1881–1941)
Religious
group		1881 [20] [21] [22] 1901 [23] : 34 1911 [24] : 27  [25] : 27 1921 [26] : 29 1931 [27] : 277 1941 [19] : 42 
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] 4,975,9015,825,9644,790,6244,735,9604,709,5455,314,610
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 3,751,8914,481,3664,144,9714,350,1865,112,2156,247,791
Sikhism Khanda.svg 1,390,8731,605,4571,993,7502,186,4292,816,7853,576,659
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 36,47941,87739,11133,51534,80634,744
Christianity Christian cross.svg 11,72922,10358,462140,104198,081247,028
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 139299412318314235
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 131321842339
Judaism Star of David.svg ——192814530
Others491206014,844
Total population [lower-alpha 16] 10,167,06211,977,10011,027,49011,446,71612,871,77415,435,980

1901 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Indo−Gangetic Plain West geographical division (1901) [23] : 34 
District/
Princely State 		Hinduism Om.svg Islam Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hisar District 544,799202,00928,6426,00325311781,717
Loharu State 13,2541,9630120015,229
Rohtak District 533,72391,687945,087801630,672
Dujana State 18,3805,790400024,174
Gurgaon District 499,373242,548993,9092781746,208
Pataudi State 18,2813,54901030021,933
Delhi District 510,532167,2902947,7263,15839689,039
Karnal District 623,597241,41212,2944,7391,1794883,225
Jalandhar District 368,051421,011125,8179691,71326917,587
Kapurthala State 93,652178,32642,101226397314,351
Ludhiana District 269,076235,937164,9192,2179471673,097
Malerkotla State 38,40927,22910,4951,36112077,506
Firozpur District 279,099447,615228,3551,0901,9085958,072
Faridkot State 35,77835,99652,721406110124,912
Patiala State 880,490357,334355,6492,877316261,596,692
Jind State 211,96338,71729,9751,2588010282,003
Nabha State 160,55358,55078,36147672297,949
Lahore District 276,375717,519159,7011,0477,2961711,162,109
Amritsar District 280,985474,976264,3291,4392,078211,023,828
Gujranwala District 169,594531,90851,6079322,7488756,797
Total5,825,9644,481,3661,605,45741,87722,10333311,977,100

1911 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Indo−Gangetic Plain West geographical division (1911) [24] : 27  [25] : 27 
District/
Princely State 		Hinduism Om.svg Islam Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hisar District 541,720218,60038,5082735,76721804,889
Loharu State 16,1782,4010018018,597
Rohtak District 450,54986,0761613344,3690541,489
Dujana State 20,1615,324000025,485
Gurgaon District 421,885217,2373427822,92110643,177
Pataudi State 16,1143,3380982019,543
Delhi District 469,561171,7452,9855,6937,53981657,604
Karnal District 556,203224,92013,5319204,2130799,787
Jalandhar District 265,378357,051176,2272,40484218801,920
Kapurthala State 61,426152,11754,2751072053268,133
Ludhiana District 131,370176,043207,0428881,8490517,192
Malerkotla State 22,90225,94221,018141,268071,144
Firozpur District 273,832418,553262,5113,3421,40118959,657
Faridkot State 37,37737,10555,39764090130,294
Patiala State 563,940307,384532,2927393,282221,407,659
Jind State 210,22237,52022,5661871,2330271,728
Nabha State 126,41446,03276,19852380248,887
Lahore District 217,609626,271169,00821,7811,1393501,036,158
Amritsar District 211,708408,882253,9414,7631,38648880,728
Gujranwala District 176,075622,430107,74816,2159501923,419
Total4,790,6244,144,9711,993,75058,46239,11157211,027,490

1921 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Indo−Gangetic Plain West geographical division (1921) [26] : 29 
District/
Princely State 		Hinduism Om.svg Islam Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hisar District 548,351215,94345,6151,0245,8743816,810
Loharu State 17,9782,6250018020,621
Rohtak District 629,592125,03560210,0337,0100772,272
Dujana State 20,1355,698000025,833
Gurgaon District 460,134216,8609241,3162,7627682,003
Pataudi State 15,0902,89800109018,097
Karnal District 573,224235,61812,2803,3824,2220828,726
Jalandhar District 244,995366,586206,1304,0887369822,544
Kapurthala State 58,412160,45764,0741,1002284284,275
Ludhiana District 135,512192,961235,7211,6131,79619567,622
Malerkotla State 29,45928,41321,82837585080,322
Firozpur District 306,350482,540302,7615,3651,211211,098,248
Faridkot State 38,61044,81366,6581074730150,661
Patiala State 642,055330,341522,6751,3953,249241,499,739
Jind State 234,72143,25128,0266371,5480308,183
Nabha State 133,87050,75678,389412780263,334
Lahore District 255,690647,640179,97546,4541,2093681,131,336
Amritsar District 204,435423,724287,00412,7731,37563929,374
Gujranwala District 101,566443,14750,80227,3087544623,581
Sheikhupura District 85,781330,88082,96523,431780523,135
Total4,735,9604,350,1862,186,429140,10433,51552211,446,716

1931 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Indo−Gangetic Plain West geographical division (1931) [27] : 277 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hisar District 253,784583,42955,1691,1075,9882899,479
Loharu State 3,11920,1982118023,338
Rohtak District 137,880655,9635964,8076,3750805,621
Dujana State 5,86322,347150028,216
Gurgaon District 242,357493,1745001,4632,6654740,163
Pataudi State 3,16815,59613105018,873
Karnal District 259,730570,29716,9281,4694,1900852,614
Jalandhar District 419,556268,822249,5714,3231,37970943,721
Kapurthala State 179,25164,31972,177983270316,757
Ludhiana District 235,598120,161312,8292,4771,41910672,494
Malerkotla State 31,41721,25228,9821351,286083,072
Firozpur District 515,430244,688388,1087,0701,411251,156,732
Faridkot State 49,91220,85592,8801675500164,364
Patiala State 363,920623,597632,9721,4493,57841,625,520
Jind State 46,002243,56133,2902101,6130324,676
Nabha State 57,393132,35497,452663090287,574
Lahore District 815,820259,725244,30457,0971,4501741,378,570
Amritsar District 524,676174,556399,95116,6191,272461,117,120
Gujranwala District 521,34392,76471,59549,3641,0711736,138
Sheikhupura District 445,99681,887119,47749,2661006696,732
Total5,112,2154,709,5452,816,785198,08134,80634212,871,774

1941 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Indo−Gangetic Plain West geographical division (1941) [19] : 42 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hisar District 285,208652,84260,7311,2926,1265101,006,709
Loharu State 3,96023,923720027,892
Rohtak District 166,569780,4741,4661,0436,8470956,399
Dujana State 6,93923,727000030,666
Gurgaon District 285,992560,5376371,6732,6136851,458
Pataudi State 3,65517,72809128021,520
Karnal District 304,346666,30119,8871,2492,7893994,575
Jalandhar District 509,804311,010298,7416,2331,39571,127,190
Kapurthala State 213,75461,54688,3501,66738012,683378,380
Ludhiana District 302,482171,715341,1751,9131,27951818,615
Malerkotla State 33,88123,48230,320116310088,109
Firozpur District 641,448287,733479,48612,6071,6741281,423,076
Faridkot State 61,35221,814115,0702478000199,283
Patiala State 436,539597,488896,0211,5923,1011,5181,936,259
Jind State 50,972268,35540,9811611,29449361,812
Nabha State 70,373146,518122,4512214801344,044
Lahore District 1,027,772284,689310,64670,1471,9511701,695,375
Amritsar District 657,695217,431510,84525,9731,911211,413,876
Gujranwala District 642,706108,11599,13960,8291,4450912,234
Sheikhupura District 542,34489,182160,70660,0542211852,508
Total6,247,7915,314,6103,576,659247,02834,74415,14815,435,980

Himalayan geographical division

Including Sirmoor State, Simla District, Simla Hill States, Bilaspur State, Kangra district, Mandi State, Suket State, and Chamba State. [19] : 48  [17] : 2 

Religious groups in the Himalayan geographical division of Punjab Province (1881–1941)
Religious
group		1881 [20] [21] [22] 1901 [23] : 34 1911 [24] : 27  [25] : 27 1921 [26] : 29 1931 [27] : 277 1941 [19] : 42 
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] 1,458,4811,598,8531,630,0841,642,1761,729,0081,929,634
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 70,64276,48074,20577,42582,71187,485
Christianity Christian cross.svg 3,8403,4154,4004,4712,5862,129
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 3,2506,9317,5185,7187,705614
Sikhism Khanda.svg 2,6803,8977,8947,6108,94812,245
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 536483358356291425
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 47184033,895
Judaism Star of David.svg ——03110
Others000401
Total population [lower-alpha 16] 1,539,4331,690,0661,724,4801,737,8011,831,2532,036,428

1901 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Himalayan geographical division (1901) [23] : 34 
District/
Princely State 		Hinduism Om.svg Islam Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Nahan State 128,4786,41468846610135,687
Simla District 30,2996,6755442,79832340,351
Simla Hill States 373,88611,5351,3181132742,223389,349
Kangra District 722,55439,6721,2203851134,180768,124
Mandi State 170,3043,1874130510174,045
Suket State 54,005665600054,676
Chamba State 119,3278,3328070322127,834
Total1,598,85376,4803,8973,4154836,9381,690,066

1911 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Himalayan geographical division (1911) [24] : 27  [25] : 27 
District/
Princely State 		Hinduism Om.svg Islam Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Nahan State 130,2766,0162,14237490138,520
Simla District 29,0475,8206933,666494539,320
Simla Hill States 386,95311,3742,9112241722,709404,343
Kangra District 725,15638,8591,910386813,994770,386
Mandi State 178,1152,7992642164181,110
Suket State 54,2685877120054,928
Chamba State 126,2698,750141815627135,873
Total1,630,08474,2057,8944,4003587,5391,724,480

1921 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Himalayan geographical division (1921) [26] : 29 
District/
Princely State 		Hinduism Om.svg Islam Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Nahan State 132,4316,4491,449446510140,448
Simla District 33,2286,9531,1733,823906045,327
Simla Hill States 292,7689,5512,0401641422,053306,718
Bilaspur State 96,0001,55943740098,000
Kangra District 722,27738,2632,083363563,023766,065
Mandi State 181,3583,46214210076185,048
Suket State 53,6256594400054,328
Chamba State 130,48910,529242633541141,867
Total1,642,17677,4257,6104,4713565,7631,737,801

1931 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Himalayan geographical division (1931) [27] : 277 
District/
Princely State 		Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] Islam Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Sirmoor State 139,0317,0202,41352520148,568
Simla District 28,6615,8107601,54011436,786
Simla Hill States 317,39010,0171,8171761411,309330,850
Bilaspur State 99,0231,458507600100,994
Kangra District 752,09840,4832,396576945,665801,312
Mandi State 199,9356,3518991410139207,465
Suket State 57,61673344101458,408
Chamba State 135,25410,839112943568146,870
Total1,729,00882,7118,9482,5862917,7091,831,253

1941 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Himalayan geographical division (1941) [19] : 42 
District/
Princely State 		Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] Islam Star and Crescent.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Sirmoor State 146,1997,3742,33438810156,026
Simla District 29,4667,0221,032934114838,576
Simla Hill States 345,71610,8122,69316112612359,520
Bilaspur State 108,3751,498453730110,336
Kangra District 846,53143,2494,8097881013,899899,377
Mandi State 227,4634,328583110208232,593
Suket State 69,97488423400071,092
Chamba State 155,91012,3181071900383168,908
Total1,929,63487,48512,2452,1294254,5102,036,428

Sub−Himalayan geographical division

Including Ambala district, Kalsia State, Hoshiarpur district, Gurdaspur district, Sialkot District, Gujrat District, Jhelum District, Rawalpindi District, and Attock District. [19] : 48  [17] : 2 

Religious groups in the Sub—Himalayan geographical division of Punjab Province (1881–1941)
Religious
group		1881 [20] [21] [22] 1901 [23] : 34 1911 [24] : 27  [25] : 27 1921 [26] : 29 1931 [27] : 277 1941 [19] : 42 
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 3,511,1743,741,7593,551,9893,587,2464,009,1664,751,911
Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] 2,159,6342,042,5051,588,0971,556,7031,565,0341,799,915
Sikhism Khanda.svg 284,592350,587565,596570,759753,168906,802
Christianity Christian cross.svg 10,36329,93092,524117,172132,500155,386
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 5,2317,2786,6956,8667,2999,172
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 20011715211176141
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 0611822171
Judaism Star of David.svg ——517176
Others100301,681
Total population [lower-alpha 16] 5,971,1956,172,1875,805,0815,838,8696,467,2727,625,185

1901 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Sub−Himalayan geographical division (1901) [23] : 34 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Ambala District 240,710510,10558,0734,3622,61416815,880
Kalsia State 21,92138,6266,4530181067,181
Hoshiarpur District 312,958603,71071,1268131,1732989,782
Gurdaspur District 463,371380,63691,7564,4717228940,334
Sialkot District 716,953302,01250,98211,9392,008151,083,909
Gujrat District 655,83869,34624,893460110750,548
Jhelum District 526,72551,80115,0702711510594,018
Rawalpindi District 803,28386,26932,2347,6141,06867930,535
Total3,741,7592,042,505350,58729,9307,2781286,172,187

1911 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Sub−Himalayan geographical division (1911) [24] : 27  [25] : 27 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Ambala District 205,203380,59294,4717,4832,18734689,970
Kalsia State 18,82030,6406,25831160055,909
Hoshiarpur District 281,805498,642134,1462,9789980918,569
Gurdaspur District 408,216284,017121,07823,3657322836,771
Sialkot District 604,801242,32581,76148,6202,02917979,553
Gujrat District 650,89349,43044,693570480745,634
Jhelum District 452,26034,26124,4364501635511,575
Rawalpindi District 458,10148,44931,8398,3201,02890547,827
Attock District 471,89019,74126,914707912519,273
Total3,551,9891,588,097565,59692,5246,6951805,805,081

1921 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Sub−Himalayan geographical division (1921) [26] : 29 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Ambala District 205,750370,12597,6145,6792,27237681,477
Kalsia State 20,39428,7698,0144190057,371
Hoshiarpur District 289,298500,339132,9583,7451,0790927,419
Gurdaspur District 422,877258,823137,62532,8322015852,192
Sialkot District 580,532217,91274,93962,2662,14727937,823
Gujrat District 709,68462,52949,4562,37340824,046
Jhelum District 422,97934,83718,6264301951477,068
Rawalpindi District 470,03857,18531,7189,28695443569,224
Attock District 465,69426,18419,80955750512,249
Total3,587,2461,556,703570,759117,1726,8661235,838,869

1931 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Sub−Himalayan geographical division (1931) [27] : 277 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Ambala District 230,837346,809155,5557,1412,55010742,902
Kalsia State 21,79728,8329,03522162059,848
Hoshiarpur District 328,078526,182173,1473,7641,01601,032,187
Gurdaspur District 493,216255,949178,47143,243154970,898
Sialkot District 609,633206,42194,95566,3652,2367979,617
Gujrat District 786,75073,35659,1883,097324922,427
Jhelum District 482,09736,06822,0306722090541,076
Rawalpindi District 524,96559,48541,2657,4861,07779634,357
Attock District 531,79331,93219,52271021583,960
Total4,009,1661,565,034753,168132,5007,2991056,467,272

1941 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the Sub−Himalayan geographical division (1941) [19] : 42 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Ambala District 268,999412,658156,5436,0653,065415847,745
Kalsia State 25,04929,86612,23555188067,393
Hoshiarpur District 380,759584,080198,1946,1651,12501,170,323
Gurdaspur District 589,923290,774221,26151,5222561,153,511
Sialkot District 739,218231,319139,40975,8313,2501,4701,190,497
Gujrat District 945,60984,64370,2334,4491081,104,952
Jhelum District 563,03340,88824,6808931595629,658
Rawalpindi District 628,19382,47864,1279,0141,33782785,231
Attock District 611,12843,20920,1201,3921313675,875
Total4,751,9111,799,915906,802155,3869,1721,9997,625,185

North−West Dry Area geographical division

Including Montgomery District, Shahpur District, Mianwali District, Lyallpur District, Jhang District, Multan District, Bahawalpur State, Muzaffargarh District, Dera Ghazi Khan District, and the Biloch Trans–Frontier Tract. [19] : 48  [17] : 2 

Religious groups in the North—West Dry Area geographical division of Punjab Province (1881–1941)
Religious
group		1881 [20] [21] [22] 1901 [23] : 34 1911 [24] : 27  [25] : 27 1921 [26] : 29 1931 [27] : 277 1941 [19] : 42 
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 2,539,0383,883,7404,504,3124,798,5265,725,8047,172,557
Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] 501,159877,147764,816864,8121,014,9221,292,390
Sikhism Khanda.svg 28,020142,955316,489342,498492,723620,479
Christianity Christian cross.svg 2,12211,14344,36571,19286,186107,923
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 3263456115847441,134
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 7054715717688
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 00292330
Judaism Star of David.svg ——06303
Others7000017,664
Total population [lower-alpha 16] 3,070,7424,915,3845,630,6996,077,6747,320,5589,212,268

1901 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the North−West Dry Area geographical division (1901) [23] : 34 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Montgomery District 334,474109,94519,0926681463,586
Shahpur District 442,92168,48912,7569120524,259
Mianwali District 371,67450,2022,63344350424,588
Lyallpur District 484,657210,45988,0498,672231791,861
Jhang District 295,48179,6503,5263800378,695
Multan District 570,254133,5604,6621,96413452710,626
Muzaffargarh District 350,17752,2213,2253300405,656
Dera Ghazi Khan District 412,01257,8151,0271521430471,149
Bahawalpur State 598,139114,6707,9858300720,877
Biloch Trans–Frontier Tract23,951136000024,087
Total3,883,740877,147142,95511,143345544,915,384

1911 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the North−West Dry Area geographical division (1911) [24] : 27  [25] : 27 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Montgomery District 399,72366,80368,175581134535,299
Shahpur District 572,56572,69533,4568,616529687,366
Mianwali District 299,97136,3264,881168310341,377
Lyallpur District 524,288154,603146,67032,0231252857,711
Jhang District 422,46873,42619,42720140515,526
Multan District 665,488126,60319,8812,44139464814,871
Muzaffargarh District 494,91568,1586,3226015569,461
Dera Ghazi Khan District 442,23456,4851,04276230499,860
Bahawalpur State 654,247109,54816,630199152780,641
Biloch Trans–Frontier Tract28,413169500028,587
Total4,504,312764,816316,48944,3656111065,630,699

1921 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the North−West Dry Area geographical division (1921) [26] : 29 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Montgomery District 513,05594,79195,52010,408120713,786
Shahpur District 596,10082,18230,36111,27032719,918
Mianwali District 308,87645,9742,98636900358,205
Lyallpur District 594,917181,488160,82142,0042312979,463
Jhang District 475,38885,3399,37644970570,559
Multan District 731,605134,01318,5626,0062850890,264
Muzaffargarh District 493,36969,8784,86935660568,478
Dera Ghazi Khan District 411,43156,346932472960469,052
Bahawalpur State 647,207114,62119,07128318781,191
Biloch Trans–Frontier Tract26,578180000026,758
Total4,798,526864,812342,49871,192584626,077,674

1931 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the North−West Dry Area geographical division (1931) [27] : 277 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Montgomery District 697,542136,783148,15517,245389999,772
Shahpur District 679,54690,56140,07411,294141821,490
Mianwali District 357,10949,7944,231380205411,539
Lyallpur District 720,996173,344211,39145,5189571,151,351
Jhang District 552,853102,9908,476494020664,833
Multan District 942,937182,02939,4539,9244401171,174,900
Muzaffargarh District 513,26572,5775,28724600591,375
Dera Ghazi Khan District 432,91157,217760311250491,044
Bahawalpur State 799,176149,45434,8961,0541220984,612
Biloch Trans–Frontier Tract29,469173000029,642
Total5,725,8041,014,922492,72386,1867441797,320,558

1941 census

Religion in the Districts & Princely States of the North−West Dry Area geographical division (1941) [19] : 42 
District/
Princely State 		Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg [lower-alpha 3] Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg Others [lower-alpha 17] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Montgomery District 918,564210,966175,06424,43249281,329,103
Shahpur District 835,918102,17248,04612,770132998,921
Mianwali District 436,26062,8146,865358231506,321
Lyallpur District 877,518204,059262,73751,9483581,396,305
Jhang District 678,736129,88912,23876350821,631
Multan District 1,157,911249,87261,62814,290552801,484,333
Muzaffargarh District 616,07490,6435,882227023712,849
Dera Ghazi Khan District 512,67867,4071,072871060581,350
Bahawalpur State 1,098,814174,40846,9453,04835117,6431,341,209
Biloch Trans–Frontier Tract40,084160200040,246
Total7,172,5571,292,390620,479107,9231,13417,7859,212,268

See also

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Punjabi Hindus are adherents of Hinduism who identify ethnically, linguistically, culturally, and genealogically as Punjabis and are natives of the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. Punjabi Hindus are the second-largest religious group of the Punjabi community, after the Punjabi Muslims. While Punjabi Hindus mostly inhabit the Indian state of Punjab, as well as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Chandigarh today, many have ancestry across the greater Punjab region, which was partitioned between India and Pakistan in 1947.

Chhachhrauli is a tehsil and Gram Panchayat town consisting of 20 wards in Yamuna Nagar district in the state of Haryana, India. It is 11 km north-east of Jagadhari. Chachhraulli is often known as "Cherapunjii of Haryana" as it receives the most rain in the whole of Haryana . It was a municipal committee until 1998. Before independence in 1947, it was the capital of the princely state of Kalsia. The origin of word Chhachhrauli is believed to be "Sat Sherawali" due to a temple located near bus terminus.

Punjab is home to 2.3% of India's population; with a density of 551 persons per km2. According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census, Punjab has a population of 27,743,338, making it the 16th most populated state in India. Of which male and female are 14,639,465 and 13,103,873 respectively. 32% of Punjab's population consists of Dalits. In the state, the rate of population growth is 13.9% (2011), lower than national average. Out of total population, 37.5% people live in urban regions. The total figure of population living in urban areas is 10,399,146 of which 5,545,989 are males and while remaining 4,853,157 are females. The urban population in the last 10 years has increased by 37.5%. According to the 2011 Census of India, Punjab, India has a population of around 27.7 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punjab, India</span> State in northern India

Punjab (; Punjabi:[pənˈdʒɑӓːb]), historically known as Panchanada(Sanskrit) or Pentapotamia, is a state in northern India. Forming part of the larger Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the north and northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast, and Rajasthan to the southwest; by the Indian union territories of Chandigarh to the east and Jammu and Kashmir to the north. It shares an international border with Punjab, a province of Pakistan to the west. The state covers an area of 50,362 square kilometres (19,445 square miles), which is 1.53% of India's total geographical area, making it the 19th-largest Indian state by area out of 28 Indian states (20th largest, if Union Territories are considered). With over 27 million inhabitants, Punjab is the 16th-largest Indian state by population, comprising 23 districts. Punjabi, written in the Gurmukhi script, is the most widely spoken and the official language of the state. The main ethnic group are the Punjabis, with Sikhs (57.7%) and Hindus (38.5%) forming the dominant religious groups. The state capital, Chandigarh, is a union territory and also the capital of the neighbouring state of Haryana. Three tributaries of the Indus River — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — flow through Punjab.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in Punjab, India</span>

Islam is a minority religion in Punjab, India followed by 535,489 people constituting about 1.93 percent of the state population out of 27.7 million population as of 2011 census report.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Punjab, India</span> Overview of and topical guide to Punjab, India

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in Punjab, Pakistan</span> Overview of the role and impact of Hinduism in the Pakistani province of Punjab

Hinduism is a minority religion in Punjab province of Pakistan followed by about 0.2% of its population. Punjab has the second largest number of Hindus in Pakistan after Sindh. Hinduism is followed mainly in the Southern Punjab districts of Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur.

References

  1. ↑ Singh, Nagendra Kr; Khan, Abdul Mabud (2001). Encyclopaedia of the World Muslims: Tribes, Castes and Communities. Global Vision. ISBN   978-81-87746-09-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "TABLE 9 - POPULATION BY SEX, RELIGION AND RURAL/URBAN" (PDF). Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Population by religion community – 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Nayar, Kamala Elizabeth (2012). The Punjabis in British Columbia: Location, Labour, First Nations, and Multiculturalism. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN   978-0-7735-4070-5.
  6. ↑ Wheeler, James Talboys (1874). The History of India from the Earliest Ages: Hindu Buddhist Brahmanical revival. N. Trübner. p. 330. The Punjab, to say the least, was less Brahmanical. It was an ancient centre of the worship of Indra, who was always regarded as an enemy by the Bráhmans; and it was also a stronghold of Buddhism.
  7. ↑ Hunter, W. W. (2013-11-05). The Indian Empire: Its People, History and Products. Routledge. p. 80. ISBN   978-1-136-38301-4. In the settlements of the Punjab, Indra thus advanced to the first place among the Vedic divinities.
  8. ↑ Virdee, Pippa (February 2018). From the Ashes of 1947. Cambridge University Press. p. 24. ISBN   978-1-108-42811-8. The Rig Veda and the Upanishads, which belonged to the Vedic religion, were a precursor of Hinduism, both of which were composed in Punjab.
  9. ↑ Flood, Gavin (13 July 1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-43878-0.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nayar, Kamala Elizabeth (2012). The Punjabis in British Columbia: Location, Labour, First Nations, and Multiculturalism. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 7–8. ISBN   978-0-7735-4070-5.
  11. ↑ "In ancient Punjab, religion was fluid, not watertight, says Romila Thapar". The Indian Express. 2019-05-03. Thapar said Buddhism was very popular in Punjab during the Mauryan and post-Mauryan period. Bookended between Gandhara in Taxila on the one side where Buddhism was practised on a large scale and Mathura on another side where Buddhism, Jainism and Puranic religions were practised, this religion flourished in the state. But after the Gupta period, Buddhism began to decline.
  12. ↑ Rambo, Lewis R.; Farhadian, Charles E. (2014-03-06). The Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion. Oxford University Press. pp. 489–491. ISBN   978-0-19-971354-7. First, Islam was introduced into the southern Punjab in the opening decades of the eighth century. By the sixteenth century, Muslims were the majority in the region and an elaborate network of mosques and mausoleums marked the landscape. Local converts constituted the majority of this Muslim community, and as far for the mechanisms of conversion, the sources of the period emphasize the recitation of the Islamic confession of faith (shahada), the performance of the circumcision (indri vaddani), and the ingestion of cow-meat (bhas khana).
  13. ↑ Chhabra, G. S. (1968). Advanced History of the Punjab: Guru and post-Guru period upto Ranjit Singh. New Academic Publishing Company. p. 37.
  14. ↑ Rambo, Lewis R.; Farhadian, Charles E. (2014-03-06). The Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion. Oxford University Press. p. 490. ISBN   978-0-19-971354-7. While Punjabi Hindu society was relatively well established, there was also a small but vibrant Jain community in the Punjab. Buddhist communities, however, had largely disappeared by the turn of the tenth century.
  15. ↑ Nicholls, Ruth J.; Riddell, Peter G. (2020-07-31). Insights into Sufism: Voices from the Heart. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN   978-1-5275-5748-2. With the Muslim conquest of Punjab there was a flow of Sufis and other preachers who came to spread Islam. Much of the advance of Islam was due to these preachers.
  16. ↑ Singh, Pritam (2008-02-19). Federalism, Nationalism and Development: India and the Punjab Economy. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-134-04946-2.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 1, Report" . Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  18. ↑ Krishan, Gopal (2004). "Demography of the Punjab (1849–1947)" (PDF). Journal of Punjab Studies. 11 (1): 77–89.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 6, Punjab". 1941. JSTOR   saoa.crl.28215541 . Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. I." 1881. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25057656 . Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. II". 1881. p. 14. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25057657 . Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Census of India, 1881 Report on the Census of the Panjáb Taken on the 17th of February 1881, vol. III". 1881. p. 14. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25057658 . Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Census of India 1901. [Vol. 17A]. Imperial tables, I-VIII, X-XV, XVII and XVIII for the Punjab, with the native states under the political control of the Punjab Government, and for the North-west Frontier Province". 1901. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25363739 . Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1911. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25393788 . Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Kaul, Harikishan (1911). "Census Of India 1911 Punjab Vol XIV Part II" . Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Census of India 1921. Vol. 15, Punjab and Delhi. Pt. 2, Tables". 1921. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25430165 . Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Census of India 1931. Vol. 17, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". 1931. JSTOR   saoa.crl.25793242 . Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  28. 1 2 "Gazetteers Of Gurdaspur District, 1883-84". 1884. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  29. 1 2 "Punjab District Gazetteers Gurdaspur District Vol.21 Statistical Tables". 1913. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  30. ↑ Dyson 2018, pp. 188–189.
  1. 1 2 Estimates from combining 2011 Indian census and 2017 Pakistani census with religious data amalgamated from Punjab, India, Punjab, Pakistan, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Islamabad, and Chandigarh. [2] [3] [4]
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Including Delhi district, which was later made into a separate province in 1912, following the transfer from Calcutta to Delhi as capital of India in 1911.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1931 & 1941 censuses: Including Ad-Dharmis
  4. ↑ 1881 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Montgomery, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), and one princely state (Bahawalpur) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1881 census data here: [20] [21] [22]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  5. ↑ 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur (inscribed as the Chenab Colony on the 1901 census), Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1901 census data here: [23] : 34 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  6. ↑ 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1911 census data here: [24] : 27  [25] : 27 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  7. ↑ 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1921 census data here: [26] : 29 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  8. ↑ 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1931 census data here: [27] : 277 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  9. ↑ 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Lahore, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Shahpur, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Attock, Mianwali, Montgomery, Lyallpur, Jhang, Multan, Muzaffargargh, Dera Ghazi Khan), one tehsil (Shakargarh – then part of Gurdaspur District), one princely state (Bahawalpur), and one tract (Biloch Trans–Frontier) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the western side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1941 census data here: [19] : 42 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and tract would ultimately make up the subdivision of West Punjab, which also later included Bahawalpur. The state that makes up this region in the contemporary era is Punjab, Pakistan.
  10. ↑ 1881 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hisar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Delhi, Karnal, Sirsa, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Firozpur, Amritsar, Simla, Kangra, Ambala, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur (minus Shakargarh Tehsil)), and princely states (Loharu, Dujana, Pataudi, Kalsia, Kapurthala, Malerkotla, Faridkot, Patiala, Jind, Nabha, and Simla Hill) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the eastern side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1881 census data here: [20] [21] [22]
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and princely states would ultimately make up the subdivision of East Punjab, which also included Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh, and Bilaspur State. The states that make up this region in the contemporary era are Punjab, India, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
  11. ↑ 1901 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hisar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Delhi, Karnal, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Firozpur, Amritsar, Simla, Kangra, Ambala, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur (minus Shakargarh Tehsil)), and princely states (Loharu, Dujana, Pataudi, Kalsia, Kapurthala, Malerkotla, Faridkot, Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Nahan, Simla Hill, Mandi, Suket, and Chamba) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the eastern side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1901 census data here: [23] : 34 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and princely states would ultimately make up the subdivision of East Punjab, which also included Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh, and Bilaspur State. The states that make up this region in the contemporary era are Punjab, India, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
  12. ↑ 1911 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hisar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Delhi, Karnal, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Firozpur, Amritsar, Simla, Kangra, Ambala, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur (minus Shakargarh Tehsil)), and princely states (Loharu, Dujana, Pataudi, Kalsia, Kapurthala, Malerkotla, Faridkot, Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Nahan, Simla Hill, Mandi, Suket, and Chamba) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the eastern side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1911 census data here: [24] : 27  [25] : 27 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and princely states would ultimately make up the subdivision of East Punjab, which also included Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh, and Bilaspur State. The states that make up this region in the contemporary era are Punjab, India, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
  13. ↑ 1921 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hisar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Karnal, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Firozpur, Amritsar, Simla, Kangra, Ambala, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur (minus Shakargarh Tehsil)), and princely states (Loharu, Dujana, Pataudi, Kalsia, Kapurthala, Malerkotla, Faridkot, Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Nahan, Simla Hill, Bilaspur, Mandi, Suket, and Chamba) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the eastern side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1921 census data here: [26] : 29 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and princely states would ultimately make up the subdivision of East Punjab, which also included Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh, and Bilaspur State. The states that make up this region in the contemporary era are Punjab, India, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
  14. ↑ 1931 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hisar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Karnal, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Firozpur, Amritsar, Simla, Kangra, Ambala, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur (minus Shakargarh Tehsil)), and princely states (Loharu, Dujana, Pataudi, Kalsia, Kapurthala, Malerkotla, Faridkot, Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Sirmoor, Simla Hill, Bilaspur, Mandi, Suket, and Chamba) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the eastern side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1931 census data here: [27] : 277 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and princely states would ultimately make up the subdivision of East Punjab, which also included Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh, and Bilaspur State. The states that make up this region in the contemporary era are Punjab, India, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
  15. ↑ 1941 figure taken from census data by combining the total population of all districts (Hisar, Rohtak, Gurgaon, Karnal, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Firozpur, Amritsar, Simla, Kangra, Ambala, Hoshiarpur, and Gurdaspur (minus Shakargarh Tehsil)), and princely states (Loharu, Dujana, Pataudi, Kalsia, Kapurthala, Malerkotla, Faridkot, Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Sirmoor, Simla Hill, Bilaspur, Mandi, Suket, and Chamba) in Punjab Province, British India that ultimately fell on the eastern side of the Radcliffe Line. See 1941 census data here: [19] : 42 
    Immediately following the partition of India in 1947, these districts and princely states would ultimately make up the subdivision of East Punjab, which also included Patiala and East Punjab States Union, Chief Commissioner's Province of Himachal Pradesh, and Bilaspur State. The states that make up this region in the contemporary era are Punjab, India, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
  16. 1 2 3 4 See total breakdowns in tables below.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Including Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Tribals, others, or not stated

    Notes

    1. ↑ Michaels (2004, p. 38): "The legacy of the Vedic religion in Hinduism is generally overestimated. The influence of the mythology is indeed great, but the religious terminology changed considerably: all the key terms of Hinduism either do not exist in Vedic or have a completely different meaning. The religion of the Veda does not know the ethicised migration of the soul with retribution for acts (karma), the cyclical destruction of the world, or the idea of salvation during one's lifetime (jivanmukti; moksa; nirvana); the idea of the world as illusion (maya) must have gone against the grain of ancient India, and an omnipotent creator god emerges only in the late hymns of the rgveda. Nor did the Vedic religion know a caste system, the burning of widows, the ban on remarriage, images of gods and temples, Puja worship, Yoga, pilgrimages, vegetarianism, the holiness of cows, the doctrine of stages of life (asrama), or knew them only at their inception. Thus, it is justified to see a turning point between the Vedic religion and Hindu religions."
      Jamison, Stephanie; Witzel, Michael (1992). "Vedic Hinduism" (PDF). Harvard University. p. 3.: "... to call this period Vedic Hinduism is a contradictio in terminis since Vedic religion is very different from what we generally call Hindu religion – at least as much as Old Hebrew religion is from medieval and modern Christian religion. However, Vedic religion is treatable as a predecessor of Hinduism."
      See also Halbfass 1991, pp. 1–2

    Bibliography

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