Hinduism in Denmark

Sri Lankan and Indian origin make up the most significant proportion of Hindus in Denmark, numbering approximately 18,000–19,000 individuals out of a total population of 5.7 million in 2017. Hindus constitutes about 0.3 percent of the total population. Hinduism is also represented among the ethnic Danish community. About 2,000 Danish ethnic origin, belong to Hindu-related groups and Hindu-inspired groups.[1] However, according to another estimate there are about 12, 000 Hindus in Denmark.[2]

Hindu goddess Kali, National Museum, Copenhagen

Hinduism is a minority faith in Denmark.

History

The first Hindus of Sri Lankan Tamil origin came in 1983 because of the escalating conflict in Sri Lanka. It was mostly men, and they were categorized as de facto refugees. Today they have married or have got the family, they had to leave to Denmark, and around half of the Tamils have been granted Danish citizenship.

Hindus of Sri Lankan Tamil origin have realized that there will not be any solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka in the near future, and they have begun to rebuild or reorganize some of their cultural and religious representations in Denmark, so they can cope with the requirements of the traditions and Danish society as well. For example, this creates an institutionalized Hinduism, where the temple has become the religious bearer per se (internal representation), and that the bharata-natyam that has its roots in the Ancient Tamil Nadu in Tanjore, has become very popular among all the Tamils (external representation), because it communicates very well with Danish society. Of course, whether Danes know what the term "bhakthi" means is altogether a different story.

Temples

There are five Hindu temples in Denmark.[2] In Denmark there are two consecrated Hindu temples: two dedicated to Vinayakar or the Ganesha and the other to the goddess Abirami apart from the ISKCON temples.

Community

There are 9 registered Hindu groups in Denmark.[3] Hindus are represented by the organisation Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS)-Denmark.[4]

Hindu temple attack

In 2011, a Hindu temple in Western Copenhagen was assaulted by a group of young Muslims, throwing stones and breaking windows. A single police officer arrived, took notice of the damage and left again. Half an hour later, a larger group of the same attackers arrived, again throwing stones, entering the garden and breaking all the bottom windows facing the street in the Tulasi room.[5][6]

See also

• Hinduism in Finland
• Hinduism in Norway

References

1. "Hinduism in Denmark - Hinduism - Oxford Bibliographies - obo". www.oxfordbibliographies.com. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
2. Staff (2010-11-26). "Denmark people receptive to Hinduism". oneindia.com. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
3. United States Department of State (2017). "DENMARK 2017 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT" (PDF). www.state.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-29. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
4. "Indians celebrate desi festivals in Denmark". The Times of India. Retrieved 2019-04-05.
5. Keralam, Haindava (2011-12-20). "Muslims attack Hare Krishna temple in Denmark". Haindava Keralam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2019-04-05.
6. https://en.europenews.dk/-Muslims-attack-Hare-Krishna-temple-in-Denmark-78167.html

External links

• Association of Indians in denmark
• Shakti in Denmark - a focal point for many Tamils in Diaspora
• ISKCON Centres in Denmark
• Tamils: a Trans State Nation - Denmark