Hinduism in Timor-Leste

Hinduism is a minority faith in Timor-Leste. Almost all of them follow Balinese Hinduism.

History

See also: Pre-colonial Timor § Indianised Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms (3rd century ~ 16th century)

Timor Island has no traditional Hindu population.^{[citation needed]} Hindus are mainly migrants from Bali who came during the Indonesian occupation. After the end of the occupation, most Hindus left the country.

Demographics

In 1992, before the independence of East Timor, Hindus constituted 0.5% of the population.^[1] After the occupation, Hinduism decreased to less than 0.1% in Timor-Leste. According to the 2011 census, there are 195 Hindus in Timor-Leste.^[2] However, the 2015 Census showed a slight increase in the absolute number of Hindus. According to that census, there were 271 Hindus in Timor-Leste.^[3]

Temples

Pura Girinatha

Pura Girinatha is the largest Balinese Hindu temple in Timor-Leste.^[4][5] The temple was built during the Occupation. Now the temple is quite run down,^[6] although some Balinese from Indonesia and the East Timorese government have started efforts to revitalize the temple.^[5]

The Pongal celebration of the Tamil Hindus were also celebrated in the Pura Giri Natha.^[7]

See also

• Pura Girinatha

References

1. "Religions - East Timor". Nationsencyclopedia.com.
2. "Population and Housing Census of Timor-Leste, 2010 : Volume 2: Population Distribution by Administrative Areas" (PDF). Mof.gov.tl. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
3. "2015 - Statistics Timor-Leste". Statistics.gov.tl.
4. "Pastika Thanks Gusmao over Dili Temple". Thebalitimes.com. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
5. "Pura Girinatha, Satunya-Satunya Pura di Dili Timor Leste" [Girinatha Temple, The Only Temple in Dili East Timor]. Beritabali.com (in Indonesian). 12 September 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
6. "Pura Di Timor Leste". Binginbanjah.wordpress.com. 16 March 2011. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
7. "CELEBRATION OF "PONGAL / SANKARANTHI" IN DILI, TIMOR LESTE". Archived from the original on 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2018-10-24.