Hinduism in Seychelles

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.

Arulmigu Navashakti Vinayakar Temple in Victoria

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

Year	Pop.	±%
1987	506	—
1994	953	+88.3%
2002	1,700	+78.4%
2010	2,174	+27.9%
2022	5,508	+153.4%

Year	Percent	Increase
1994	1.3%	-
2002	2.1%	0.8%
2011	2.4%	0.3%
2022	5.4%	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
Central	30,145	1,083	3.6
East-South	27,072	2,229	8.2
West	15,058	303	2
North	17,843	797	4.5
Praslin	7,882	207	2.6
La Digue & Inner Islands	3,624	182	5
Outer Islands	988	707	71.6

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]	District	Total Population	Hindu Population	Percentage of Hindus
Central	English River	3,508	124	3.5
	Mont Buxton	2,778	47	1.7
	Saint Louis	3,267	205	6.3
	Bel Air	2,619	136	5.2
	Mont Fleuri	3,506	150	4.3
	Plaisance	3,685	125	3.4
	Roche Caiman	3,157	242	7.7
	Les Mamelles	2,215	41	1.9
	Ile Perseverance	5,410	13	0.2
East-South	Cascade	6,659	1,337	20.1
	Pointe Larue	3,267	104	3.2
	Anse Aux Pins	3,898	91	2.3
	Anse Royale	4,552	146	3.2
	Takamaka	3,528	330	9.4
	Au Cap	5,168	221	4.3
West	Baie Lazare	4,265	75	1.8
	Anse Boileau	4,595	77	1.7
	Grand Anse Mahé	3,425	131	3.8
	Port Glaud	2,773	20	0.7
North	Belombre	3,823	126	3.3
	Beau Vallon	4,740	158	3.3
	Glacis	3,803	71	1.9
	Anse Etoile	5,477	442	8.1
Praslin	Baie Ste Anne	4,272	122	2.9
	Grand Anse Praslin	3,610	85	2.4
La Digue & Inner Islands	Bird	1	0	0
	Denis	86	0	0
	Fregate	13	0	0
	La Digue	3,133	159	5.1
	North	88	10	11.4
	Silhouette	303	13	4.3
Outer Islands	Aldabra	3	0	0
	Alphonse	112	13	11.6
	Assumption	7	7	100
	Coetivy	22	22	100
	Darros	110	110	100
	Desroches	338	162	47.9
	Farquhar	17	14	82.4
	Marie-Louise	8	8	100
	Platte	353	353	100
	Poivre	9	9	100
	Providence	5	5	100
	Remire	4	4	100

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

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

• Satya Naidu- first Hindu member of Seychelles National Assembly.^[6]

See also

• Hinduism in Africa