Hinduism in Guyana

Hinduism in Guyana is the religion of about 24.8% of the population in 2012.^[1] This makes Guyana the country with the highest percentage of Hindu residents in the Western Hemisphere.^[2]

Guyanese Hindus

Total population
2,57,000 (2021) {increases} 31.0% of the population
Regions with significant populations
Guyana United States Canada United Kingdom Netherlands Suriname Trinidad and Tobago
Religions
Hinduism (Sanātana Dharma) Majority sect Sanātanī Minority sects Arya Samaj · Caribbean Shaktism (Kali Mai Dharam/Madrasi Hinduism) · Sathya Sai Baba movement · Sieunarini (Sir Narain/Shiv Narayani) Panth · Hindu atheism · others
Scriptures
Vedas · Puranas · Upanishads  · Ramayana (incl. Ramcharitmanas version) · Mahabharata (incl. Bhagavad Gita) · other Hindu texts
Languages
Sanskrit  · Tamil (liturgical languages) English (Guyanese English Creole) · Guyanese Hindustani
Related ethnic groups
Trinidadian and Tobagonian Hindus · Surinamese Hindus · Jamaican Hindus · other Caribbean Hindus

History

After the 1833 Slavery Abolition Act in the British Empire, the need for labour led to the recruitment of Indians in Guyana and other British West Indian territories. Upon arrival, the new workers had to adapt to the extreme tropical conditions, along with their new contracts and working conditions. Between 1835 and 1918, 341,600 indentured labourers were imported into British Guyana from India.^[3]

From 1852, Christian missionaries attempted to convert East Indians during the indentured servitude period, but this was met with little success. In response to Christian proselytizing, Hindu priests and monks began administering spiritual rites to all Hindus.

In the late 1940s, reform movements caught the attention of many Guyanese Hindus. In 1910, Arya Samaj arrived in Guyana.

Demographics

Hinduism had been slowly decreasing for many decades. In 1991, 35.0% of the Guyanese population adhered to Hinduism, decreasing to 28.4% in 2002,^[4] 24.8% in 2012^[5]

Year	Percent	Decrease
1980	35.7%	-
1991	35.0%	-0.7%
2002	28.4%	-6.6%
2012	24.8%	-3.6%
2021	31.0%	6.2

Geographical distribution of Hindus

Region	Percent of Hindus (2002)	Percent of Hindus (2012)
Barima-Waini	8.1%	0.4%
Pomeroon-Supenaam	37.3%	33.2%
Essequibo Islands-West Demerara	46.5%	37.7%
Demerara-Mahaica	24.4%	20.8%
Mahaica-Berbice	39.0%	34.1%
East Berbice-Corentyne	46.4%	42.1%
Cuyuni-Mazaruni	5.6%	3.5%
Potaro-Siparuni	6.4%	1.0%
Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo	0.5%	0.4%
Upper Demerara-Berbice	4.7%	0.8%
Guyana	28.4%	24.8%

Tamil (Madrasi) Hindus forms the majority in East Berbice-Corentyne region and practice Caribbean Shaktism.^[6]

According to the 2012 census, 39.8% of the Guyana's population is of East Indian origin and 24.8% are Hindus.^[5] The remainder is mostly Muslim (6.8%) or Christian (62.7%). according to new census The Hindu population in Guyana has been steadily increasing over the years. According to the 2012 Census, Hindus constitute approximately 24% of the total population, showing growth in both absolute numbers and as a percentage of the population.^[7]

Public Holidays

Holi-Phagwah and Deepavali are National Holidays in Guyana.^[8]

Temples

• Tain Hindu Mandir
• Central Vaidik Mandir
• Sita Ram Toolsie Vade Ganesh Mandir
• Shree Maha Kali Devi Temple
• Edinburgh Shree Krishna Mandir
• Hampton Court Mandir
• D'Edward Vighneshwar Mandir

See also

• Religion in Guyana
• Hinduism in Belize
• Hinduism in French Guiana
• Hinduism in South America
• Hinduism in Suriname
• Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago
• Hindu eschatology