Hinduism in Mizoram

A Hindu temple in downtown Aizawl

Hinduism is a minority faith in Mizoram followed by 2.75% of its population. There are 30,136 Hindus in Mizoram.[1] There are 12 temples in Mizoram and are managed by the Central Gorkha Mandir Sanchalan Samiti.[2]

History

An archeological study in 2023 discovered 8tth century Hindu and Buddhist-influenced sculptures at Kolalian village in the Mamit district. The area belong to Reangs( Bru) Tribes who worship Hindu deities.[3]

The ancestors of the Gorkha and Bengali Hindus of Mizoram were Gorkha soldiers and Bengali clerks who settled in the state during the British rule. The Gorkhas arrived in Mizoram in 1871 to liberate the Mary Winchester, daughter of a British tea planter who was abducted by a Mizo tribal chieftain. After liberating her, the British allotted plots for them in the State and many chose to reside there.[2]

Culture

Mizoram is a Christian dominated state and Hindus have coexisted with Christians peacefully for many decades. Hindus and Christians well wishes to each other and take part in each other's festivities. There have never been a single instance of conflict between the two religions in the State. Many of the Hindus are also part of the Young Mizo Association.[4]

Some Christian influences can be seen in the practices of Hindu of Mizoram. There are temples in Mizoram which conduct Sunday service for Hindu deities similar to the Sunday services in Church. In the 'Sunday service’, the Hindu priests deliver sermons and chanting prayers from a standardised ‘book of psalms’ which is similar to Christian book of psalms but is made from Hindu scriptures and includes bhajans and shlokas. The teachers or elders of the Hindu community will then conduct theology classes for Hindu children on Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Dholak is also played with bhajan during the Sunday sangat (gathering). During the death ceremonies, the deceased body is carried in coffins like Christians and community members gather to sing bhajans before the final rites.[2][5]

Demographics

According to the 2001 Census, there were 31,562 Hindus in Mizoram constituting 3.5% of the state's population.[6] It decreased to 30,136 Hindus or 2.75% of the state's population in the 2011 census.[1] Most of the Hindus in Mizoram are Gorkhas[4] and Bru Reangs[7] Most of the Bru Reangs have left Mizoram following the 1997 Bru Reang genocide.[7]

District wise Hindu Population

District[8] Percent
Aizawl 3.31%
Lawngtlai 1.41%
Saiha 1.65%
Serchhip 1.53%
Mamit 3.46%
Champhai 0.85%
Lunglei 3.24%
Kolasib 4.76%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "These are the 7 states, 1 UT where a PIL wants Hindus to be declared as minorities". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Mizo temples' 'Sunday service' a hit". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  3. ^ "ASI to survey 8th Century Hindu-Buddhist sculptures found near Assam-Mizoram border". Hindustan Times. 2023-12-08. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  4. ^ a b "How Hindu temples are gearing up to celebrate Dussehra in Mizoram". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Temples inspired by churches in Mizoram". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  6. ^ "District-wise Religious Population of Mizoram, Census, 2001". Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b Krishnan, Ananya Bhardwaj, Revathi; ThePrint (2020-01-18). "Bru settlement in Tripura 'best solution' as community claims 'ethnic cleansing' by Mizos". ThePrint. Retrieved 2023-12-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Mizoram Religion Census 2011". Retrieved 30 October 2022.[permanent dead link‍]