Hinduism in France
The Hindu community in France consists of some long-time residents and many recent immigrants. Although Hinduism does not constitute a large proportion of the population it appears to be growing rapidly; the current Hindu population of France is 121,312 or 0.2% of the nation's population, up from an estimated 50,000 in 1993.
It is the fourth largest in Europe, after those of the United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Italy.[1]
 An ISKCON temple in Luçay-le-Mâle, France | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 121,312 0.2% of the French Population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Paris | |
| Languages | |
| English · French · Tamil · Indian Languages |
Influence of Hinduism in France
French people who were Hindus or were influenced by Hinduism include Victor Cousin, Alexandra David-Néel, Paul Gauguin, René Guénon, Jules Michelet, Mirra Richard, Romain Rolland, Satprem, Paul Verlaine, François Gautier and Voltaire.
Hinduism in French overseas territories
Hinduism in Martinique
Hinduism is followed in the Martinique by the Indo-Martiniquais. Though Indo-Martiniquais comprises approximately 10% of the population of the island of Martinique, only a few are Hindus. Only 15% of Indo-Martiniquais are Hindus.
Hinduism in French Guiana
As of 2010, Hinduism is followed by 1.6% of the population of French Guiana[2].It is practiced mostly by the descendants of the Indo-Guyanese, who in 2014 numbered around 360,000.[3]
Hinduism in Réunion
The French government gathers no statistics on religious affiliation. Because of this, it is impossible to know accurately how many Hindus there are in Réunion. Estimates of practicing Hindus vary from 6.7%[4] to 10.7%.[5] Most of the large towns have a functioning Hindu temple.[6] Yet, uncertainty as to the exact number of Hindus in the country results from the fact that many of the members of the Indian population cross-identify with Roman Catholic, Muslim and Hindu faiths.
About 59% of the Gujarati, 40% of the Punjabis, 10% of the Tamils in Réunion are Hindus. An interesting feature, likely peculiar to Réunion, is the simultaneous observance by some ethnic Indians of both Catholic and Hindu rites, a practice that has earned them the sobriquet of being "socially Catholic and privately Hindu."
Hinduism in Guadeloupe
Hinduism is practised by Some Indo-Guadeloupeans in Guadeloupe. According to a Statistis, Hinduism is followed by 0.5% of the Guadelopeans [7]
Notable French Hindus
- Vikash Dhorasoo, a member of the French Football World Cup squad in 2006. He is an ethnic Mauritian Indian from the town of Le Havre.
- Alain Danielou, a French historian, intellectual, musicologist, Indologist and noted Western convert to Shaivite Hinduism.
- Arnaud Desjardins, French journalist, film maker, main disciple of Swami Prajnanpad.
References
- Hinduism by country
- http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/french-guiana#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010
- Heenan, Patrick; Lamontagne, Monique, eds. (2014). The South America Handbook. Routledge. p. 318. ISBN 9781135973216.
- "Indian diaspora" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
- "Country Profile: Reunion (Department of Reunion)". Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 2015-02-14.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
- Peoples of Africa: Réunion-Somalia. Marshall Cavendish. 2001. pp. 412–. ISBN 978-0-7614-7166-0.
- https://www.religion-facts.com/en/191
- "How Hinduism Fares in Europe " in Hinduism Today International (Aug, 1993, Vol. 15, No. 8)