SaifurRahaman at 10:45, 1 May 2026

2026-05-01T10:45:29Z

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{{Short description|Hinduism in the Indian state}}
{{notability|date=February 2026}}
{{draft article|nomove=yes}}
[[File:Dimapur Kalibari Temple.jpeg|thumb|[[Dimapur Kalibari|Dimapur Kalibari Temple]] in Dimapur district]]

Hinduism is a minority faith in Indian state of [[Nagaland]] followed by 8.75% of the population. There are 104,851 Hindus in Nagaland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11386|title=C-01: Population by religious community, Nagaland - 2011|access-date=9 October 2022}}</ref>

==History==
{{Further information|Ruins of Kachari Rajbari|Dimasa Kingdom}}Archeological sources say the Dimapur region was a medieval Hindu Kingdom. On the late medieval, upon the ruins of this, the [[Dimasa Kingdom]] was founded.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sarma |first=Pradip Chandra |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Dimasa/rhRuAAAAMAAJ?hl=en |title=The Dimasa: Child of the Big River |date=2003 |publisher=Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture |pages=8 |language=en}}</ref> Recent analysis of salvage excavations conducted in 1979–1980 at Rajbari Citadel in Dimapur has produced the first scientific radiocarbon dates for the site. Two charcoal samples from mid-level occupation deposits yielded calibrated dates of CE 270–660 and CE 570–940. These push the confirmed Kachari occupation of Dimapur back to at least the 3rd century CE (possibly earlier than the 1st century), well before the 10th century and over a millennium prior to the Ahom arrival in 1228 CE.<ref>https://www.arfjournals.com/image/catalog/Journals Papers/JHAA/2024/No 1 (2024)/1_Nienu.pdf</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Excavations at Rajbari, Dimapur, Nagaland Reveal the Kachari Civilization to the 3rd century AD |url=https://www.morungexpress.com/excavations-at-rajbari-dimapur-nagaland-reveal-the-kachari-civilization-to-the-3rd-century-ad |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=MorungExpress}}</ref>

==Legend==
During the early 19th century, the Dimasa chiefs with the assistance of Brahmins claimed themselves to be descendent of Hidimba. According to the legend constructed in the court, during their exile, the [[Pandava|Pandavas]] came to the Kachari Kingdom where [[Bhima]] fell in love with [[Hidimbi]] (sister of [[Hidimba]]). Bhima married princess Hidimbi according to the [[Gandharva marriage|Gandharva system]] and a son was born to princess Hidimbi, named Ghatotkacha. He ruled the Kachari Kingdom for many decades. Thereafter, kings of his lineage ruled over the vast land of the "''Dilao''" river ( which translates to "long river" in English), now known as [[Brahmaputra River]] for centuries until 4th century AD.<ref>{{harvcol|Shin|2020|pp=68–70}}</ref><ref>{{harvcol|Bathari|2014|pp=17–18}}</ref>

The Mount Pauna in the Benreu village in Peren district is believed by the nature worshippers there as the ''Sanjeevani hills.'' Locals there believe that the [[Hanuman]] uprooted Mount Pauna to revive Lakshman. They believe the ''cailihei'' found there is the ''sanjeevani.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-08-29 |title=Land of bitter honey |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/land-of-bitter-honey/story-oZsIGoES5nTjucx19G6LAM.html |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kashi |first=Anita Rao |date=2022-04-09 |title=A trip to Nagaland's enchanted mountain village of Benreu |url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/ideas/a-trip-to-nagaland-s-enchanted-mountain-village-of-benreu-111649403421785.html |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref>

==Demographics==
The Hindu community in Nagaland is diverse including Nepali Hindus, Bengali Hindus, Marwari Hindus etc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fervor and festivity mark start of Durga Puja in Dimapur and |url=https://www.easternmirrornagaland.com/fervor-and-festivity-mark-start-of-durga-puja-in-dimapur-and-chmoukedima |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=www.easternmirrornagaland.com |language=en}}</ref> A majority of the [[Bodo–Kachari people|Kachari]] people (69%) follows Hinduism.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religion Data of Census 2011: XXXI Mizoram Manipur and Nagaland |url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html |access-date=2026-02-07 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Hindus are concentrated mainly in [[Dimapur district|Dimapur District]] (28.75%), [[Kohima district|Kohima District]] (11.8%)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11386&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiCh9PBqNL6AhXhU3wKHXPoBOAQFnoECAoQAg&usg=AOvVaw0dpHbLxTxlxiiQuNEcrAyX|title=C-01: Population by religious community, Nagaland - 2011|access-date=9 October 2022}}</ref> and [[Niuland district|Niuland District]] (9.4%)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Niuland Circle Population, Caste, Religion Data - Dimapur district, Nagaland|url=https://www.censusindia.in/amp/subdistrict/niuland-circle-dimapur-nagaland-1792|access-date=9 October 2022|website=www.censusindia.in|archive-date=15 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250415203906/https://www.censusindia.in/amp/subdistrict/niuland-circle-dimapur-nagaland-1792|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{efn|The district was formed by upgrading the Niuland subdivision of [[Dimapur District]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Nagaland creates 3 more districts|url=https://assamtribune.com/north-east/nagaland-creates-3-more-districts-1344462|newspaper=[[The Assam Tribune]]|date=December 18, 2021|access-date=9 October 2022}}</ref>}}

==Temples==

* Shri Ram Janaki Thakurbari temple, Dimapur<ref>{{Cite web |last=Post |first=Nagaland |date=2024-01-22 |title=Hindu devotees in Dimapur celebrate Ram Mandir inauguration |url=https://nagalandpost.com/hindu-devotees-in-dimapur-celebrate-ram-mandir-inauguration/ |access-date=2026-02-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Sitla Mata temple, near Railway, Dimapur<ref>{{Cite web |last=Post |first=Nagaland |date=2023-10-22 |title=Dimapur wears festive look at Durga Puja |url=https://nagalandpost.com/dimapur-wears-festive-look-at-durga-puja/ |access-date=2026-02-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Sibrai (Shiva) temple, Dhansiripar village, Dimapur<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Sibrai temple inaugurated in Dhansiripar village |url=https://morungexpress.com/new-sibrai-temple-inaugurated-in-dhansiripar-village |access-date=2026-02-07 |website=MorungExpress}}</ref>
* Shree Hindu Mandir, PWD Junction, Kohima<ref>{{Cite web |last=TIMES |first=MOKOKCHUNG |date=2023-04-06 |title=Governor of Nagaland La Ganesan visited Shree Hindu Mandir » MokokchungTimes.com |url=https://mokokchungtimes.com/governor-of-nagaland-la-ganesan-visited-shree-hindu-mandir/ |access-date=2026-02-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Hinduism in Manipur]]
* [[Hinduism in Myanmar]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Cited sources ==
* {{cite thesis |type=Ph.D. |first=Uttam |last=Bathari |title=Memory History and polity a study of dimasa identity in colonial past and post colonial present |publisher=Gauhati University |year=2014|hdl=10603/115353 }}
* {{cite journal|last1=Shin|first1=Jae-Eun|year=2020|title=Descending from demons, ascending to kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, The Chutiyas and the Dimasas|journal=The Indian Economic and Social History Review|volume=57|issue=1|pages=49–75|doi=10.1177/0019464619894134|s2cid=213213265}}

{{Hinduism in India by region}}

[[:Category:Hinduism in India|Nagaland]]

{{Hinduism-stub}}

[[Category:Religion in Nagaland]]
[[Category:Hinduism in India by state or union territory|Nagaland]]

Hinduism in Nagaland - Revision history

SaifurRahaman at 10:45, 1 May 2026