Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago
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Scriptures | |
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Vedas · Puranas · Upanishads · Ramayana (incl. Ramcharitmanas version) · Mahabharata (incl. Bhagavad Gita) · other Hindu texts | |
Languages | |
Sanskrit · Tamil (liturgical languages) Trinidadian and Tobagonian English · Trinidadian Hindustani · Hinglish · other Indian Languages | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Guyanese Hindus · Surinamese Hindus · Jamaican Hindus · other Caribbean Hindus |
Hinduism by country |
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Full list |
Hinduism in
History
A decade after slavery was abolished in 1834, the British government gave permission for the colonists to import indentured labor from
During the initial decades of Indian indenture, Indian cultural forms were met with either contempt or indifference by the non-Hindu majority.[3] Hindus have made many contributions to Trinidad history and culture even though the state historically regarded Hindus as second class citizens. Hindus in Trinidad struggled over the granting of adult franchise, the Hindu marriage bill, the divorce bill, cremation ordinance, and others.[3] Cremation was allowed in 1953.[4]
There has been persistent discontent among the Hindus with their marginalization. Many groups portray Hindus as "clannish, backward and miserly". During the
The divergence of some of the fundamental aspects of local
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1990 | 292,786 | — |
2000 | 285,517 | −2.5% |
2011 | 240,100 | −15.9% |
Year | Percent | Decrease |
---|---|---|
1962 | 23.8 | - |
2000 | 22.5% | -1.03% |
2011 | 18.15 | -4.35% |
As per the 2011 Census, there were 240,100 Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago. Out of this, 232,104 were Indian, 2,738 were Dougla (mixed African/Indian), 2,466 were Mixed/Other, 1,887 Unknown ethnicity, 346 African, 175 Chinese, 27 European, 302 Indigenous Amerindian, 46 Other, and 8 Portuguese. Talking about the proportion within the ethnic groups, 49.54% of the East Indians and 21.66% of the Indigenous were Hindu. So were 4.37% of the Chinese, 2.70% of Douglas (mixed African/East Indian), 1.23% of the Mixed/Other and 0.08% of the Africans.[6]
Hindu population according to the administrative division is as follows: Port of Spain- 1.45%, San Fernando- 10.70%, Arima- 4.39%, Chaguanas- 30.04%, Point Fortin- 3.87%, Couva- 31.26%, Diego Martin- 1.83%, Mayaro- 22.46%, Penal- 42.98%, Princes Town- 26.99%, San Juan- 8.35%, Sangre Grande- 15.41%, Siparia-23.37%, Tunapuna- 14.07%, and Tobago- 0.67%.[6]
Sects, denominations, and organizations
- Sanātanī, the orthodox sect being the largest and most dominant Hindu sect in Trinidad and Tobago, with notable influence from Ramanandi Vaishnavism, Shaivism (Daśanāmi Sampradaya (Gosines)/Aghoras), Smartism, Shaktism, Sauraism, Vedanta (incl. Vishishtadvaita), and other Hindu traditions
- Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, the major Sanātanī group in Trinidad and Tobago
- SWAHA International, a smaller Sanātanī group
- Arya Samaj
- Arya Pratinidhi Sabha
- Vedic Mission
- Kabir Panth
- Seunariani (Sieunarini/Siewnaraini/Shiv Narayani)
- Shiva Dharam Sabha, formerly known as the Seunarine Dharam Sabha
- Aughar (Aghor/Owghur)
- Ravidas Panth
- Kali Mai (Madrasi)
- Murugan (Kaumaram)
- Chinmaya Mission
- Bharat Sevashram Sangha
- Sathya Sai Organization
- Shirdi Sai Baba movement
- Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat (Radha Madhav)
- ISKCON
- Ganapathi Sachchidananda movement
- Divine Life Society
- Brahma Kumaris
- Blue Star
Source:[7]
Culture
Mandirs
Hindu organisations and holidays
The major Hindu organisation in Trinidad and Tobago is the
Caste
As in other parts of the Caribbean, South Africa, Fiji, and Mauritius, caste distinctions are all but forgotten among Trinidadian Hindus. Considerations of caste became less important in choosing a spouse largely because there were so few women among the Indian indentured workers.
Cremation
Cremation is permitted at five cremation sites in Mafeking (Mayaro-Rio Claro), South Oropouche (Siparia), Waterloo (Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo), Felicity (Chaguanas) and Caroni (Tunapuna-Piarco).
See also
- Indo-Caribbean
- List of Hindu temples in Trinidad and Tobago
- Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian
- Hinduism in Suriname
- Hinduism in Guyana
- Hinduism in the West Indies
- Caribbean Shaktism
References
- ^ "National Profiles; World Religion". www.thearda.com.
- ^ "Latin American Herald Tribune - Trinidad and Tobago Marks 170 Years Since 1st East Indian Arrivals". www.laht.com. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
- ^ a b c d Singh, Sherry-Ann, Hinduism and the State in Trinidad, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, Volume 6, Number 3, September 2005, pp. 353-365(13)
- ^ "Cremation act" (PDF). Ministry of Legal Affairs. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
- ^ Trinidad and Tobago International Religious Freedom Report 2002. U.S. Department of State. Accessed 2008-05-18.
- ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). guardian.co.tt. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Hindu sects in Trinidad and Tobago – Indo-Caribbean Publications".