Hinduism in Meghalaya

Hinduism is a minority religion in the Meghalaya state of India constituting 12% of the state's population.[1] The Nartiang Durga Temple in Meghalaya is one of the 51 Shakti peethas on Earth and is considered by Hindus of Meghalaya as the permanent abode of Goddess Durga.[2] Hinduism is a popular religion practice by Rabhas, Hajongs, Kochs, Rajbongshis, Mikirs, Bengalis, Nepalis, Biharis etc.[1]

Nartiang Durga Temple

Tradition
A traditional Hajong Granary has no doors in order to prevent the goddess of wealth and fortune, Lokkhi Dyoi (Lakshmi Devi), from leaving.

Festivals

Hinduism is practiced by different groups of Meghalaya. Hindus celebrate many festivals in Meghalya.[3] Diwali, Behdienkhlam, Navaratri, etc. are celebrated by people. Navaratri and other Goddess Pujas are celebrated mainly by Bengali people. Diwali is celebrated by almost all Hindus.[4]

Behdienkhlam is festival celebrated by the pnars in Jowai, Meghalaya

In Jowai, Behdienkhlam is a harvest festival celebrate by the Niamtre believers. This festival is popular among non-Christian Pnar people.

Many other Hindu festivals celebrate Hindus like Makar Sankranti, Diwali, Holi, Navaratri,etc.

Important Temples and Shrines

In Meghalaya, there is Shaktipeeth at Jaintia hills in Nartiang. Here, Shakti is worshipped as Jayanti and Bhairava is worshipped as Kamadishwar. There many native Brahmins who caretakes temple and organises ritual programs. According to people, this Shakti peetha is only one on Earth which is abode of Durga[5]

Hajong Tradition

Hajong people practice Hinduism from long time. They worship specific Avatars(equivalent to Hindu deities). Ex.-

  • Lakshmi-Lukkhi Dyao
  • Vishnu-Bishnu Dyao
  • Shiv-Shib Dyao
  • Kartikeya-Katka Dyao

Dyao is derived from Sanskrit word- (देव Deva,modern Indian languages- Dev/Deo).

Rabha people

Rabha people's religious world is pervaded with various spirits and natural objects. The main deity of the Rabhas is called Rishi. Rishi, for the forest Rabhas as well as village Rabhas, is a male deity. He is also known as Mahakal. Forest Rabhas worship him in all important social and religious ceremonies.[6]

Demographics
Hindu Population in Meghalaya
YearPop.±%
1971 187,140—    
1981 240,831+28.7%
1991 260,306+8.1%
2001 207,822−20.2%
2011 342,078+64.6%
Source: census of India[7][8][9]

Hinduism constituted 13.27 percent of Meghalaya's population in 2001 and it decreased to 11.53 percent in 2011. Hindus are mainly found in West Garo Hills district with 19%, East Khasi Hills District with 17.50% and the Ri-Bhoi District with 12%.[10] Hinduism is followed by 42% of the population of Shillong.[11]

Percentage in Groups

According to 2011 census there are 342,078 Hindus living in Meghalaya accounting constituting 11.53% of the state population after Christianity.[1] Meghalaya Scheduled Tribe Population is 2,555,861 (86% of the state population), out of which 122,141 people among them follow Hinduism, while Non-ST population is 411,028, out of which 219,937 of them follow Hindu faith.[12]

Hinduism is practiced by these following groups:-

Persecution

Percentage of Hindus in Meghalaya by decades[21][22][23][24]

Year Percent Increase
1971 18.49% -
1981 18.03%

-0.46%

1991 14.67%

-3.36%

2001 13.27%

-1.4%

2011 11.53%

-1.74%

Hindu percentage in Meghalaya have declined from 18.49% in 1971 to 11.53% in 2011 census (A decline of -6.96% in four decades).

The Non-ST Hindu minority are being targeted, attacked and murdered by Christian tribals since from the time of the creation of Meghalaya in 1972. The Hindu minority of the state do not enjoy equal rights and there is widespread hatred, discrimination and intolerance against them which were perpetrated by local Khasi Students Union. The Bengali Hindus in Meghalaya are often treated as Bangladeshis or outsiders (Dkhar). They have been running away, leaving the state in large numbers since from 1972.[25][26][27]

Three ethnic-religious riots between the indigenous Christian tribes and the non- tribals mostly Hindus have taken place in the year 1979, 1987 and 1992 respectively. In 1979 almost 20 thousands Hindu Bengalis were displaced from Meghalaya following attacks by local Khasis.[28] In 1987, almost 2.7 thousand Nepalis and Biharis were displaced from Meghalaya following land disputes with Christian tribals. Again in 1992, around 3 thousand Nepalis quit Meghalaya following clashes between Khasis and non-tribals during Dusherra.[29][30] In 2018, there were repeatedly violence against Mazhabi Sikh which were perpetrated by local Khasis and Khasi Students Union members in around Shillong city.[31][32][33] In 2020, The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has issued an ultimatum to all the Hindu-Bengalis to leave Ichamati and Majai areas at Shella in East Khasi Hills within one month which have ultimately lead to clashes between Hindu Bengalis and Khasi Christian tribals resulting in one death and several injuries.[34]

References
  1. "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
  2. Das, Manosh (15 October 2010). "Lofty Himalayas notwithstanding, the tribal people of Nartiang in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya truly believe that their scenic little hamlet is the "permanent abode" of Goddess Durga. Perched atop a hillock is the more than 600-year old and ancient Durgabari - a simple house made of stones and wood complete with tin roofing. Revered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, the temple has been drawing a large number of pilgrims from all over the country on occasion of Durga Puja. - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  3. "Cultural festival of Meghalaya | Vedic Culture". Hindu Scriptures | Vedic lifestyle, Scriptures, Vedas, Upanishads, Itihaas, Smrutis, Sanskrit. 2018-02-18. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  4. "Behdienkhlam festival | Culture in Meghalaya | Times of India Travel". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  5. "Nartiang Durga Temple - Wikipedia". en.m.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  6. B. G. Karlsson (2000). Contested Belonging: An Indigenous People's Struggle for Forest and Identity in Sub-Himalayan Bengal. ISBN 978-0-7007-1179-6.
  7. http://gbpihedenvis.nic.in/District%20wise%20Religious%20Population%20%20of%20Meghalaya-2001.html
  8. http://lsi.gov.in › bitstreamPDF Religion, Part IV-B (ii), Series-16, Meghalaya
  9. http://megplanning.gov.in › ...PDF s C - Planning Department,Government of Meghalaya
  10. "Hindu population comes down in Meghalaya". Times of India. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  11. "Shillong Metropolitan Urban Region Population 2011 Census". www.census2011.com.
  12. "Religion Data of Census 2011: XXX ST Meghalaya".
  13. https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1
  14. "Hajong Hinduism - Wikipedia". en.m.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  15. https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1
  16. Project, Joshua. "Koch (Hindu traditions) in India". joshuaproject.net. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  17. "Rajbongshi people - Wikipedia". en.m.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  18. https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1
  19. https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1
  20. https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxx-st.html?m=1
  21. censusindia.gov.in https://censusindia.gov.in › 4...PDF 1991 Census religion
  22. censusindia.gov.in https://censusindia.gov.in › catalog C-01: Population by religious community, Meghalaya - 2001
  23. censusindia.gov.in https://censusindia.gov.in › catalog C-01: Population by religious community, Meghalaya - 2011
  24. "Muslim population up; Hindus dip". 18 September 2015.
  25. "Oppression of non-tribals by the Tribals". 20 November 2020.
  26. "Meghalaya extremists ask non-tribal group to leave". The Hindu. 2 March 2020.
  27. "Explained: Behind Meghalaya violence". 6 March 2020.
  28. "A riot that changed a city: 40 years of 79'er gondogul - the 1979 Shillong anti-Bengali riots". 22 October 2019.
  29. "'Nepalis living in terror in Meghalaya'". 29 May 2010.
  30. Karmakar, Rahul (9 June 2018). "Why did riots erupt in Shillong?". The Hindu.
  31. "Now, Christians attack Dalit Sikhs in Shillong. Pray tell, where is the outrage?".
  32. "Khasi-Punjabi clashes: Why there is unrest in Meghalaya capital". 3 June 2018.
  33. "How Shillong got a separate Punjabi colony and why it's a problem now".
  34. "Meghalaya: HNLC issues 'leave Ichamati, Majai' notice to Hindu-Bengalis". March 2020.
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