OlivaWilhite3 at 10:50, 17 April 2026

2026-04-17T10:50:03Z

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{{Short description|none}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2026}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Arunachali Hindus
| image = File:Parshuram Kund .jpg
| image_caption = [[Parshuram Kund]] in [[Lohit district]], a major Hindu pilgrimage site.
| population = 401,876 <br />('''29.04%''' of Arunachal Pradesh's population) {{decrease}}
| region1 = [[Lohit district|Lohit]]
| pop1 = 99,020 (67.95%)
| region2 = [[Anjaw district|Anjaw]]
| pop2 = 13,088 (61.83%)
| region3 = [[Namsai district|Namsai]]
| pop3 = 54,452 (56.74%)
| region4 = [[Lower Dibang Valley district|Lower Dibang Valley]]
| pop4 = 28,915 (53.47%)
| region5 = [[Dibang Valley district|Dibang Valley]]
| pop5 = 3,141 (39.24%)
| region6 = [[West Kameng district|West Kameng]]
| pop6 = 31,265 (37.24%)
| region7 = [[Papum Pare district|Papum Pare]]
| pop7 = 57,027 (32.30%)
| region8 = [[Changlang district|Changlang]]
| pop8 = 47,683 (32.17%)

| langs =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
}}

'''Hinduism''' is the second largest religion in the Indian state of [[Arunachal Pradesh]]. According to the 2011 Census of India, Hindus constituted 401,876 persons or 29.04% of the state's population, making [[Hinduism]] one of the major religions in the state alongside [[Christianity]] and indigenous faiths.<ref name="census2011">{{cite web |title=Primary Census Abstract – 2011: Population by religious community – Arunachal Pradesh |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11361 |publisher=Census of India |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

==History==
Evidence of Hindu cultural and religious motifs in the region dates to historic periods and is reflected in archaeological remains and local traditions identified in academic studies. Archaeological sites such as [[Bhismaknagar]] (near Roing, [[Lower Dibang Valley]]) contain ruins and artefacts that indicate early historic contacts with broader Indian cultural worlds; these sites have been documented by the Archaeological Survey of India and by state tourism/archaeology publications.<ref name="bhismaknagar">{{cite web |title=Ancient Remains at Bhismaknagar, Arunachal Pradesh |url=https://www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/publication/Ancient%20Remains%20at%20Bhismaknagar%2C%20Arunachal%20Pradesh.pdf |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India (Guwahati Circle) |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

Local histories and academic research note the presence of Hindu pilgrimage traditions in the region (for example, [[Parshuram Kund]] in Lohit District), and describe the long-term interplay between indigenous religious systems, Buddhism and Hindu practices in the region's cultural history.<ref name="parshuram-official">{{cite web |title=Parshuram Kund – Official site |url=https://parshuramkund.arunachal.gov.in/ |publisher=District Administration, Lohit, Government of Arunachal Pradesh |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref><ref name="pib-parsu">{{cite web |title=Development of Parshuram Kund, Lohit District Arunachal Pradesh approved under PRASHAD scheme |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1757351 |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |date=23 September 2021 |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

Scholarly work has also examined the changing religious profile of Arunachal Pradesh — including the growth and decline of particular faith communities and the influence of modernisation, migration and missionary activity on religious change in the 20th and 21st centuries.<ref name="visva">{{cite web |title=Changing profile of religious culture in Arunachal Pradesh (Ph.D. thesis) |url=https://etd.lib.jnu.ac.in/TH18957.pdf |publisher=Jawaharlal Nehru University (Thesis) |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

==Demographics==
As per 2011 census, the religious composition in 2011 for Arunachal Pradesh included Christians (30.26%), [[Hindus]] (29.04%), [[Buddhists]] (11.77%), followers of indigenous/other religions (26.20%), [[Muslims]] (1.95%) and smaller numbers of [[Sikhs]] and [[Jains]].<ref name="census2011"/>

{{Table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable sortable defaultright col1left"
|+ Religious Statistics of Arunachal Pradesh
! rowspan="2" |Religion !! colspan="2" | 1971<ref name="Rel1981"/> !! colspan="2" | 1981<ref name="Rel1981">{{cite web|title=Household Population by Religion of Head of Household, Series-1, Paper 3 of 1984, India - Census 1981 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/30879/download/34060/26795_1981_HH.pdf |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref> !! colspan="2" | 1991<ref>{{cite web|title=C-9 Religion , INDIA - 1991 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/35737/download/39400/1991-C09T-0100.xlsx |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref> !! colspan="2" | 2001<ref>{{cite web|title=C-01: Population by religious community, Arunachal Pradesh - 2001 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/21474/download/24606/PC01_C01_12.xls |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref> !! colspan="2" | 2011<ref name="religion2">{{cite web|publisher=Census Department, Government of India|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/c-01.html|title=Indian Census 2011|access-date=25 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913045700/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01.html|archive-date=13 September 2015}}</ref>
|-
! Pop. || % || Pop. || % || Pop. || % || Pop. || % || Pop. || %
|-
| [[Buddhism]] || 61,400 || 13.13 || 86,483 || 13.69 || 111,372 || 12.88 || 143,028 || 13.03 || 162,815 || 11.77
|-
| [[Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh|Christianity]] || 3,684 || 0.79 || 27,306 || 4.32 || 89,013 || 10.30 || 205,548 || 18.72 || 418,732 || 30.26
|-
| [[Hinduism]] || 102,832 || 22.00 || 184,732 || 29.24 || 320,212 || 37.04 || 379,935 || 34.6 || 401,876 || 29.04
|-
| [[Islam]] || 842 || 0.18 || 5,073 || 0.80 || 11,922 || 1.38 || 20,675 || 1.88 || 27,045 || 1.95
|-
| [[Jainism]] || 39 || 0.01 || 42 || 0.01 || 64 || 0.01 || 216 || 0.02 || 771 || 0.06
|-
| [[Sikhism]] || 1,255 || 0.27 || 1,231 || 0.19 || 1,205 || 0.14 || 1,865 || 0.17 || 3,287 || 0.24
|-
| {{abbr|ORP|Other Religions and Persuasions}} || 296,674 || 63.46 || 326,000 || 51.6 || 313,118 || 36.22 || 337,399 || 30.73 || 362,553 || 26.2
|-
| Not stated || 785 || 0.17 || 972 || 0.15 || 17,652 || 2.04 || 9,302 || 0.85 || 6,648 || 0.48
|- class="sortbottom"
! Total || 467,511 || 100 || 631,839 || 100 || 864,558 || 100 || 1,097,968 || 100 || 1,383,727 || 100
|}

===District-wise distribution===
[[File:Arunachal Hindou 2011.png|thumb|Hindu population distribution in Arunachal]]
According to the Census of India 2011, Hindus constitute about 29.04% of the total population of Arunachal Pradesh. The following table shows the Hindu population by district as per the 2011 Census:<ref name="census2011" />

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ '''Hindu population by district in Arunachal Pradesh (2011 Census)'''
! District !! Total population !! Hindu population !! Percentage of Hindus
|-
| [[Tawang district|Tawang]] || 49,977 || 11,842 || 23.69%
|-
| [[West Kameng district|West Kameng]] || 83,947 || 31,265 || 37.24%
|-
| [[East Kameng district|East Kameng]] || 78,690 || 12,333 || 15.67%
|-
| [[Papum Pare district|Papum Pare]] || 176,573 || 57,027 || 32.30%
|-
| [[Kurung Kumey district|Kurung Kumey]] || 92,076 || 4,859 || 5.28%
|-
| [[Kra Daadi district|Kra Daadi]] || 46,704 || 2,452 || 5.25%
|-
| [[Lower Subansiri district|Lower Subansiri]] || 83,030 || 9,551 || 11.50%
|-
| [[Upper Subansiri district|Upper Subansiri]] || 83,448 || 13,474 || 16.15%
|-
| [[West Siang district|West Siang]] || 112,274 || 15,881 || 14.14%
|-
| [[East Siang district|East Siang]] || 99,214 || 27,854 || 28.07%
|-
| [[Siang district|Siang]] || 31,920 || 4,908 || 15.38%
|-
| [[Upper Siang district|Upper Siang]] || 35,320 || 5,261 || 14.90%
|-
| [[Lower Siang district|Lower Siang]] || 65,867 || 14,520 || 22.05%
|-
| [[Dibang Valley district|Dibang Valley]] || 8,004 || 3,141 || 39.24%
|-
| [[Lower Dibang Valley district|Lower Dibang Valley]] || 54,080 || 28,915 || 53.47%
|-
| [[Anjaw district|Anjaw]] || 21,167 || 13,088 || 61.83%
|-
| [[Lohit district|Lohit]] || 145,726 || 99,020 || 67.95%
|-
| [[Namsai district|Namsai]] || 95,950 || 54,452 || 56.74%
|-
| [[Changlang district|Changlang]] || 148,226 || 47,683 || 32.17%
|-
| [[Tirap district|Tirap]] || 111,975 || 20,682 || 18.47%
|-
| [[Longding district|Longding]] || 60,734 || 5,894 || 9.71%
|-
| '''Total''' || '''1,383,727''' || '''401,876''' || '''29.04%'''
|}

==Pilgrimage sites==
Several sites in Arunachal Pradesh are important to Hindu pilgrims and to the local expression of Hindu culture:

===Parshuram Kund===
[[Parshuram Kund]] (Lohit District) is a major Hindu pilgrimage site associated with the epic tradition of Parashurama; the state and central government have supported development of pilgrimage amenities and mela infrastructure. The Parshuram Kund mela attracts devotees from across the Northeast and neighbouring states and is recognised in state tourism planning documents.<ref name="parshuram-official"/><ref name="pib-parsu"/>

===Malinithan Temple ===
Malinithan Temple is an archaeological and pilgrimage site located near Likabali in the [[Lower Siang district]] of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], India. The site contains the ruins of an ancient temple complex dedicated primarily to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and is one of the most important evidences of early Hindu influence in the region.<ref name="malinithan-tourism">{{cite web |title=Malinithan Temple Ruins |url=https://www.arunachaltourism.com/malinithan.html |publisher=Department of Tourism, Government of Arunachal Pradesh |access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref>

According to local legends and references in Assamese literature, the site is associated with the story of [[Lord Krishna]] and [[Rukmini]]. It is believed that Krishna and Rukmini, on their way from Bhismaknagar to Dwarka after their marriage, were welcomed here by Goddess Parvati (Malini). Hence, the name ''Malinithan''—meaning “the abode of Malini.”<ref name="asi-malinithan">{{cite web |title=Ancient Remains at Malinithan, Arunachal Pradesh |url=https://www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/publication/Ancient%20Remains%20at%20Malinithan.pdf |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India, Guwahati Circle |access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref>

Excavations by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]] (ASI) have revealed intricately carved stone sculptures, including images of Indra on Airavata, Surya, Nandi, and panels depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. The stylistic features of the carvings show strong affinities with the early medieval art of the Brahmaputra valley, suggesting cultural exchange between present-day Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.<ref name="asi-malinithan"/>

===Bhismaknagar===
[[Bhismaknagar]] (Lower Dibang Valley) an archaeological complex with remains of brick constructions and structural ruins that have been discussed in ASI publications and district tourism material as evidence of early historical cultural connections in the region.<ref name="bhismaknagar"/>

Government tourism and district administration sites list other religious and historic places that reflect the cultural pluralism of the state and the local presence of Hindu traditions in parts of the state’s plains and foothill zones.<ref name="roing-bhismaknagar">{{cite web |title=Bhismaknagar – Roing District tourism page |url=https://roing.nic.in/tourist-place/bhismaknagar/ |publisher=Roing (Lower Dibang Valley) District Administration |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

==Practices, festivals and cultural interaction==
In Arunachal Pradesh, Hindu festivals and pilgrimage observances are often localised and coexist with indigenous rituals and Buddhist traditions in mixed cultural zones. The Parshuram Kund mela (annual bathing festival) is an example of a large Hindu pilgrimage event that also has economic and cultural effects on the locality and attracts official attention from tourism and administration authorities.<ref name="parshuram-official"/>

Academic literature emphasises that the religious landscape of Arunachal Pradesh is characterised by pluralism and interaction: indigenous animistic systems (often categorised in official statistics as "Other Religions and Persuasions"), Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism interact in different ways across districts, shaped by historical migration, conversion movements and contemporary politics.<ref name="visva"/><ref name="borgohain">{{cite journal |last=Borgohain |first=Bijoy |title=Religious Nationalism, Christianisation and regional responses in Arunachal Pradesh |journal=Asian Studies / Area Journal (Example) |year=2023 |doi=10.1080/00856401.2023.2223457 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00856401.2023.2223457 |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

Among the [[Idu Mishmi people|Idu Mishmi]] people of Arunachal Pradesh, local oral narratives link their ancestry to King Bhīṣmaka of the ''Bhāgavata Purāṇa'', the father of Rukmini, who was married to [[Lord Krishna]]. According to these traditions, the ancient city of Kundil Nagar—identified with the present-day archaeological site of [[Bhismaknagar]]—was ruled by Bhīṣmaka, and the Idu Mishmis consider themselves his descendants. The story of Krishna’s marriage to Rukmini is celebrated annually in the region during the Bhismaknagar Festival.<ref name="visva" /><ref name="pib-bhismak">{{cite web |title=Bhishmaknagar Festival showcases Arunachal Pradesh's heritage and tourism potential |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1795482 |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |date=6 February 2022 |access-date=29 October 2025}}</ref>

===Local versions of the Ramayana in Arunachal Pradesh===
Several tribal communities in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring regions preserve unique oral traditions of the Ramayana story. For example, the [[Khamti people|Khamti]] people of eastern Arunachal Pradesh have a version called “Lik Cao-Lamang” (or “Cao-Alang-Lamang”) which is distinct from the mainstream Sanskrit/Valmiki Ramayana, incorporating Buddhist, local tribal and Southeast Asian influences. <ref name="newsbhartiramayanaKhamti">{{cite web |title=Ramayana in North-east India – II : The Khamti Ramayana |url=https://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2021/4/21/Ram-Navami.html |publisher=NewsBharati |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

A broader overview of the Ramayana tradition in the Northeast notes that tribal narratives frequently adapt the story: for instance the folk song of the Rabha people speaks of “let’s go and see the horse of Sri Rama” and the narrative among the Khamtis, the Mishmi people and others in Arunachal and Assam have “folk tales that have closeness to Ramakatha.” <ref name="newsbhartiramayanaNE">{{cite web |title=Ramayana tradition in northeast Bharat - NewsBharati |url=https://www.newsbharati.com/Encyc/2020/3/31/Ramayana-north-east.html |publisher=NewsBharati |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

One scholarly article mentions that archaeological sites and legends in Arunachal connect the region to both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, suggesting how the epic narratives have been localised in the region’s cultural memory. <ref name="behera2024">{{cite journal |last=Behera |first=M.C. |title=Historical Sites, Legends, and Cultural India: A Palimpsest from Arunachal Pradesh |journal=Sampratyaya |volume=1 |issue=Spl.3 |pages=70–82 |year=2024 |doi=10.21276/smprt.202409.1s3.a8 |doi-broken-date=29 October 2025 }}</ref>

These versions show how the Ramayana motif travels beyond its classical form and is adapted by tribal cultures, giving the region its distinct imprint of the epic’s tradition.

==Politics and law==
Religious matters, including conversion and the interplay of tribal customary law and state law, have been politically salient in Arunachal Pradesh. Recent news reporting and government notices discussed the state's Freedom of Religion Act (1978) and debates about its enforcement, which commentators note could affect religious dynamics in the state.<ref name="ie-act">{{cite news |last=Indian Express |title=Why Arunachal Pradesh is bringing back 1978 Act against 'conversion' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-law/why-1978-anti-conversion-law-in-arunachal-could-now-be-enforced-9761646/ |newspaper=Indian Express |date=7 January 2025 |accessdate=29 October 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Religion in Arunachal Pradesh]]
* [[Hinduism in Mizoram]]
* [[Bhismaknagar]]
* [[Hinduism in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11361 Census of India – Religion table (2011) – Arunachal Pradesh]
* [https://parshuramkund.arunachal.gov.in/ Parshuram Kund – District Administration, Lohit (Official)]
* [https://www.asiguwahaticircle.gov.in/publication/Ancient%20Remains%20at%20Bhismaknagar%2C%20Arunachal%20Pradesh.pdf ASI – Bhismaknagar publication]
* [https://etd.lib.jnu.ac.in/TH18957.pdf JNU PhD thesis – Changing profile of religious culture in Arunachal Pradesh]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hinduism in Arunachal Pradesh}}
[[Category:Religion in Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Hinduism in India]]

Hinduism in Arunachal Pradesh - Revision history

OlivaWilhite3 at 10:50, 17 April 2026