Cornelius R at 06:57, 2 March 2026

2026-03-02T06:57:40Z

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{{update|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox religious group
| group = Hindus in Bahrain
| population = 387,800 (2020){{increase}}; '''8.33%''' of total population
| religions = [[Hinduism]]
| related-c = [[Indians in Bahrain]] and [[Hindus]]
| regions = [[Manama]]
|image=Manama Sri Krishna Temple Courtyard 01.jpg|image_caption= [[Shrinathji Temple, Bahrain|Shrinathji Hindu Temple]] in Manama is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the Middle East}}

'''Hinduism in Bahrain''' is practiced primarily by members of the expatriate communities from India, Nepal and Bangladesh living in [[Bahrain]]. While Islam is the state religion, Bahrain is tolerant of minority religions, including [[Hinduism]], and allows the operation of Hindu places of worship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hindu leaders: Bahrain role model for religious freedom |url=https://www.bna.bh/en/HRHPremierissuedEdict33/HRHPremierissuedEdict33/HMKingissuesdecree46/HinduleadersBahrainrolemodelforreligiousfreedom.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDmBgBmRQOuJZn2rJQiby%2B1k%3D |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=www.bna.bh}}</ref>

== History ==
Before the 19th century, there has been small Hindu community in the shores of Bahrain owing to the sea trade.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mehta |first=Sandhya Rao |date=2022-10-02 |title=Strategic Belonging: Hindu Identity and Performance in Oman |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/25765949.2022.2151741 |journal=Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies |language=en |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=4 |doi=10.1080/25765949.2022.2151741 |issn=2576-5949|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The presence of Hindus in Bahrain dates back to the early 19th century, linked to Indian merchant communities engaged in regional trade. These merchants settled in Manama and established religious and commercial institutions that served the growing Indian population.<ref>{{cite book |last=Onley |first=James |title=The Arabian Frontier of the British Raj |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2007 |isbn=9780199228102}}</ref> The Lorimer's ''Gazetteer,'' noted that in 1905 there were 69 Hindus among the 191 British Indian subjects in Manama during colder months, but it increased to 175 Hindus out of 325 British Indian subjects during [[Fishing industry in Bahrain|pearling season]]. Majority of the Hindus were Lohana and Bhattia communities from Sindh.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Onley |first=James |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Arabian_Frontier_of_the_British_Raj/1vUckJbC8JIC?hl=en |title=The Arabian Frontier of the British Raj: Merchants, Rulers, and the British in the Nineteenth-Century Gulf |date=2007-11-22 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-160776-9 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1817, the [[Shrinathji Temple, Bahrain|Shrinathji Temple]] dedicated to [[Shrinathji]], a form of the Lord [[Krishna]] was constructed in [[Manama]] by the Hindu community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=External affairs minister Jaishankar visits 200-year-old Hindu temple in Bahrain |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/external-affairs-minister-jaishankar-visits-200-year-old-hindu-temple-in-bahrain-345224 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Wion |language=en}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
Majority of the Indian Hindus in Bahrain are [[Hinduism in Kerala|Kerala Hindus]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=(PDF) Suicide rates in the national and expatriate population in Dubai, United Arab Emirates |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51878794_Suicide_rates_in_the_national_and_expatriate_population_in_Dubai_United_Arab_Emirates |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250206141241/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51878794_Suicide_rates_in_the_national_and_expatriate_population_in_Dubai_United_Arab_Emirates |archive-date=2025-02-06 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=ResearchGate |language=en}}</ref> According to the Boston University’s 2020 World Religions Database, Hinduism is followed by 6% of the population.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Bahrain |url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/bahrain/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US}}</ref> According to the [[Association of Religion Data Archives|ARDA]], Hinduism is followed by 8.33% of the population (3.54% are [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavites]], 2.74% are [[Shaivism|Shaivites]] and 2.05% [[Shaktism|Shaktists]]) in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Profiles {{!}} World Religion |url=https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=18c |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA) |language=en-gb}}</ref> Some other sources cites population as 10%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamann |first=Jasper |date=2020-08-17 |title=Woman Destroys Hindu Idols in Bahrain Shop, Sparks Uproar in India |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/08/67136/woman-destroys-hindu-idols-in-bahrain-shop-sparks-uproar-in-india/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Morocco World News |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to 2020 government data, there are approximately 387,800 Hindus in the country. all of whom are expatriates.<ref name=":0" /> Its unclear whether there are Hindu citizens in the country. The Bahrain Ministry of Information states that "99.8% of Bahraini citizens are Muslims. The percentage of Christians, Jews, Hindus, Baha’is is 0.2%."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population and Demographics – Ministry of Information {{!}} وزارة الاعلام {{!}} Kingdom of Bahrain |url=https://www.mia.gov.bh/kingdom-of-bahrain/population-and-demographics/?lang=en |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=www.mia.gov.bh}}</ref>

== Community Life ==
The [[Shrinathji Temple, Bahrain|Shrinathji Temple]] in Bahrain is one of the oldest temple in the Middle east region.<ref>{{cite news |title=Modi announces redevelopment of Bahrain’s Hindu temple |work=Gulf News |date=25 August 2019 |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/bahrain/modi-announces-redevelopment-project-for-hindu-temple-in-bahrain-1.66002226}}</ref> Other Hindu temples are BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir,<ref name=":0" /> [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|ISKCON Balramdesh temple]] etc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garde |first=Deeplata |date=2022-10-22 |title=5 Temples You Can Visit In The Middle East This Diwali |url=https://curlytales.com/5-temples-you-can-visit-in-the-middle-east-this-diwali/ |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Curly Tales |language=en-US}}</ref>

There is cremation facility for Hindus on land that was granted over 100 years ago.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Embassy of India, Bahrain |url=https://www.eoibahrain.gov.in/indian-community.php |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=www.eoibahrain.gov.in}}</ref> The Hindu celebrations are celebrated openly without any restrictions from the state.<ref name=":0" /> In Diwali celebrations, the Royal Highness Prince [[Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa]], and other ministers often visit Hindu familes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa visits a number of families to mark Diwali |url=https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDk0CPTFsEedCVDGkxpC45f8%3D#:~:text=During%20the%20visits%2C%20HH%20Shaikh,various%20sectors%20and%20their%20active |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=www.bna.bh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=KHGC Chairman visits families to mark Diwali |url=https://www.bna.bh/en/news?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDjtusvmuN3iqm2HXP9A1eBY%3D |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=www.bna.bh}}</ref> In 2001, the King of Bahrain also appointed a Hindu member to the Parliament.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Salmi/Salimi |first=Abdulrahman Al |title=Abdulrahman al-Salimi Immigrant religions: a study of religious diversity in the GCC States |url=https://www.academia.edu/43184824/Abdulrahman_al_Salimi_Immigrant_religions_a_study_of_religious_diversity_in_the_GCC_States |journal=Academia |pages=40}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Religion in Bahrain]]
* [[Hinduism in Oman]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Asia in topic|Hinduism in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hinduism In Arab States}}
[[Category:Culture of the Middle East]]
[[Category:Hinduism in the Middle East]]
[[Category:Religion in Bahrain]]

Hinduism in Bahrain - Revision history

Cornelius R at 06:57, 2 March 2026