Hinduism in Meghalaya

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Before 20th Century, the majority of

Festivals

Hinduism is practiced by different groups of Meghalaya. Hindus celebrate many festivals in Meghalya.^[14] Diwali, Behdienkhlam, Navaratri, etc. are celebrated by people. Navaratri and other Goddess Pujas are celebrated mainly by Bengali people. Diwali is celebrated by almost all Hindus.^[15]

In Jowai, Behdienkhlam is a harvest festival celebrate by the Niamtre believers. This festival is popular among non-Christian Pnar people.

Many other Hindu festivals celebrate Hindus like Makar Sankranti, Diwali, Holi, Navaratri,etc.

Important Temples and Shrines

In Meghalaya, there is

Rabha people's religious world is pervaded with various spirits and natural objects. The main deity of the Rabhas is called Rishi. Rishi, for the forest Rabhas as well as village Rabhas, is a male deity. He is also known as Mahakal. Forest Rabhas worship him in all important social and religious ceremonies.[16]

Demographics

Hinduism constituted 13.27 percent of Meghalaya's population in 2001 and it decreased to 11.53 percent in 2011. Hindus are mainly found in

According to 2011 census there are 342,078 Hindus living in Meghalaya accounting constituting 11.53% of the state population after Christianity.[1] Meghalaya Scheduled Tribe Population is 2,555,861 (86% of the state population), out of which 122,141 people among them follow Hinduism, while Non-ST population is 411,028, out of which 219,937 of them follow Hindu faith.^[22]

Hinduism is practiced by these following groups:-

• Hajong people (38,576 – Of which 98.65% Hindu),^[22]
• Koch people (22,716 – Of which 99.02% Hindu),^[22]
• Rajbongshi people
  ,
• Rabha tribe (32,662 – Of which 94.95% Hindu),^[22]
• Karbi People (Mikir people) (19,289 – Of which 79% Christian and 21% Hindu),^[22]
• Nepali people
  (54,834 - Of which 90% Hindu and 10% Buddhist),
• Bengali people
  (190,882 - Of which 60% Hindu and 40% Muslim),
• Punjabi people
  (4,540 - Of which 70% Sikh and 30% Hindu),
• Marwari people (17,405 - Of which 80% Hindu and 20% Jain),
• Bihari people
  (30,611 - Of which 85% Hindu and 15% Muslim),
• Christian and 40% following tribal religion "Ka Niamtre" with some elements of Hinduism in it),^[22]
• Khasi people (1,411,775, of which only 10,302, 0.73% of the ethnic's population follows Hindu religion),^[22]
• Garo people (821,026, of which only 4,776, 0.58% of the ethnic's population follows Hindu religion)^[22]

Persecution

Percentage of Hindus in Meghalaya by decades^{[23][24][25][26]}

Hindu percentage in Meghalaya have declined from 18.49% in 1971 to 11.53% in 2011 census (A decline of -6.96% in four decades).

The Non-ST Hindu minority are being targeted, attacked and murdered by Christian tribals since from the time of the creation of Meghalaya in 1972. The Hindu minority of the state do not enjoy equal rights and there is widespread hatred, discrimination and intolerance against them which were perpetrated by local Khasi Students Union. The Bengali Hindus in Meghalaya are often treated as Bangladeshis or outsiders (Dkhar). They have been running away, leaving the state in large numbers since from 1972.^[27][28][29]

Three ethnic-religious riots between the indigenous Christian tribes and the non- tribals mostly Hindus have taken place in the year 1979, 1987 and 1992 respectively. In 1979 almost 20 thousands Hindu Bengalis were displaced from Meghalaya following attacks by local Khasis.