Hinduism In South Africa Information
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Hinduism in South Africa has a following primarily in KwaZulu-Natal, due to historical patterns of migration to the region from India. But now a significant population exists also in Gauteng, especially around Lenasia. Approximately 1.22% or 551,669 of the South African population identifies as Hindu, according to the 2001 census.[1]
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History
Indentured labourers
Main article: Indian South AfricansAfter slavery was abolished throughout the British Empire in the early 19th century, farmers found themselves with a shortage of cheap skilled labour. A unique British solution to this problem was to allow indentured labourers to move around throughout the Empire, where they were needed. These indentured labourers were mostly made up of marginal farmers. Indentured labourers usually had four year contracts after which they could reside in their adopted country or return to India. Not surprisingly, owing to the prohibitive costs for transport as well as no assurance for the future in their home land, most of them chose to settle, mostly as distinct cultural communities.
Indentured Labourers traveled far and wide, and indeed today many Indians spread out around the world have their connections to India through this system. Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius and Guyana are all countries with sizable Indian-descent populations.
In South Africa, indentured labourers worked mostly on the sugar cane farms in Natal. Today, the Kwa-Zulu Natal contains one of the highest Indian populations outside India.
More recently, South Africa has seen waves of expatriate Indians settle down there.
Establishment of Hinduism in South Africa
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Hindu Temples
1. Shivan Kovil (Shiva Mandir), Lenasia (Lenz), Johannesburg, South Africa
2. Hindu Temple Complex, (en route to) Springfield Park, Durban, South Africa
3. Shree Siva Subramanium Alayam, 122 Sirdar Road, Clairwood, Durban 4052, South Africa
4. Shree Muruga Alayam, 152 Jacobs Road, Clairwood, Durban 4052, South Africa
5. Melrose Temple, 37 2nd Street, Abbotsford, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
6. Madhya Kailash Temple Midrand, 52 Stag Road Glen Austin EXT 3 Midrand
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Ashrams in South Africa
1. Divine Life Society of South Africa, Reservoir Hills, Durban
2. Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Glen Anil, Durban
See also
- Thai Poosam Kavady annual festival
- Detailed population count of Hindus
- Bhakti Narasimha Swami
- Priests of South Africa
References
- ^ "South Africa - Section I. Religious Demography". U.S. Department of State. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51496.htm. Retrieved 2006-07-15.
Links
- Divine Life Society of South Africa
- South African site on Hinduism
- South African Hindu
- Homogeneity and South African Hinduism Journal of Religion in Africa, Vol. 13, Fasc. 2. (1982), pp. 139–149.
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Categories: Hinduism in South Africa
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