• Source: Hinduism in Suriname

Hinduism in Suriname is the second-largest religion. According to ARDA, there are 129,440 Hindus in Suriname as of 2015, constituting 23.15% of the population. Suriname has the second largest percentage of Hindus in the Western Hemisphere, after Guyana (24.8%).




History



The story of Hindus in Suriname is broadly parallel to that in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Indian indentured labourers were sent to colonial Dutch Guiana by special arrangement between the Dutch and British. The difference is that the Netherlands' more liberal policy toward Hinduism allowed a stronger culture to develop. Example is the almost universal reading of the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramcharitmanas, and the Ramayana.




Demographics


According to ARDA, there are 129,440 Hindus in Suriname as of 2015, constituting 23.15% of the population.




= Population by year

=

The percentage of Hindus increased initially (1900 – 1930s), fluctuated slightly between the 1930s and 1980s, and remained stable in the 20s (20%).The demographic changes in the religious population in the first half of the 20th century can be explained by migration. In the second half of the 20th century, in particular after 1970s the decline of Hindus might be explained by large migration to the Netherlands during the independence (1975) and the military regime in the 1980-1987.




= Population by districts

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Hindu denominations



According to the 2012 census, 18% of Surinamese are Sanatani Hindus, 3.1% are Arya Samaj, and the remaining 1.2% followed other forms of Hinduism.
ISKCON also have a presence in Suriname. The first Hare Krishna devotees to visit Suriname were devotees from Guyana way back in the early 1980s. The first Center was established about two decades ago, and now there is a vibrant preaching center in the country’s second city, New Nickerie.
Communities of Indo-Caribbeans in Suriname also practice Madras Hinduism, a syncretic largely based on Tamil Hinduism




Ethnicity



Majority of the Hindus in Suriname are East Indians, both in absolute terms and in percentage. Hinduism has a considerable following among Mixed ethnic people (3,210 people) and Javanese Surinamese (915 people). Hinduism is also practised among Chinese Surinamese (157 people), Creole (142 people), Maroon (84 people), Indigenous people (83 people) and Afro-Surinamese (59 people).




Contemporary Society






= Language

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In contrast to the neighbouring Guyanese Hindus who speak English, most of the Surinamese Hindus speak Sarnami Hindustani, a dialect of Bhojpuri. This is largely due to the fact that the Dutch did not force the Indo-Caribbean population to abandon their native languages, unlike in British colonies like Trinidad and Guyana, where English was imposed as a means of attempting to erase cultural and religious traditions.




= Festivals

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Deepavali and Holi are national holidays in Suriname.




See also



Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago
Hinduism in Belize
Hinduism in the Netherlands
Hinduism in Guyana
Hinduism in Guadeloupe
Caribbean Shaktism




References






External links


Hinduism in Suriname, Research Paper

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Indonesia
• Hinduisme di Amerika Serikat
• Hari Ibu
• Hinduisme menurut negara
• Hinduisme di Asia Tenggara
• Daftar ketua negara dan pemerintah yang berasal dari keturunan India.
• Agama di Rusia
• India non-residen dan orang berdarah India
• Hinduism in Suriname
• Hinduism in South America
• Religion in Suriname
• Hinduism in Guyana
• Hinduism in the Netherlands
• Islam in Suriname
• Caribbean Shaktism
• Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago
• Indo-Surinamese
• Hinduism in the West Indies