Hinduism in Belgium

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Hinduism is a minority religion in Belgium. There are estimated to be about 6,500 Hindus in the country, not counting Buddhists, who are treated as a different religious community by the Belgian government. Hindu religious or monastic orders that are active in Belgium are ISKCON and the Brahma Kumaris.

There is however only one Hindu temple of any size in the country. Spread over 135 acres, the temple was consecrated in 2009.^[1]

which includes 1,500 Hare Krishnas and 5,000 other Hindus.^[2] There are several hundreds of ethnic Balinese people living in Belgium, and

Indian Community in Belgium

There are about 7,000 persons of Indian origin in Belgium.

A section of immigrants from Palanpur district in Gujarat had entered the port city of Antwerp to work with the Jewish community in the diamond business, and eventually started their own.

The Antwerp Indians still form a very tightly knit group and actively celebrate Indian festivals.

Indian Software companies like Aricent, HCL, TCS, Daffodil Software Ltd and Infosys have a presence in Belgium.

Some Farm labourers and Shop-hands, mainly immigrants from North India have also managed to enter Belgium illegally

Indian Associations in Belgium

Despite the small size of the community there are several Indian cultural associations. The leading ones are Indo-Belgian Association, INDIAN CULTURAL CENTRE asbl and Antwerp India Association.

The Hindu Forum of Belgium - HFB or FHB - was created by Hindu organisations in Belgium. It was launched on the 16th of March 2007 in Brussels

A handful of Indians work in the financial institutions based in Luxembourg, which boasts an Indian Association. As in the Netherlands, Belgians regularly adopt children from India

There are about 250 families engaged in diamond trade in Antwerp. Many of the other Indians living in Belgium are professionals employed with either multinational companies or other professional organisations Indian community in Belgium

Indo-Belgian Association VZW-ASBL

Indo-Belgian Association or InBelg has emerged as the largest Indian non-profit organization with more than 9000 people in it. The main objective of InBelg is to organize events for, about and around Indians and India-related themes in Belgium and elsewhere. InBelg has 8 units which are formed to organize city specific or group specific events. These units are InBelg Gent, InBelg Brussels, InBelg Leuven, InBelg Antwerp, InBelg Women's Club, InBelg Students Club, See-EU and See-India. InBelg organizes around 60 events throughout the year which includes Indian Festivals, Bollywood Movie Shows, Food Fairs, India-Info evenings, Trips to various parts of Europe, Lectures, Indian Cooking Lessons, Workshops around Indian themes and so on. Their website is www.InBelg.eu

Nepalese Hindu Community in Belgium

It is estimated that around 6000 Hindu of Nepalese origine are staying in Belgium. Leuven, Antwerpen, Brussels and Brugge are major cities where Nepali Hindus are living. They organize different cultural and religious activities on special occasion each year in common place. The main rituals like Nwaran, Pasni, Birth day, Bratabandha, Marriage, Griha prabhesh are performed on at their home. Besides, they have been organizing devi puja and Shiva Puja on Navarati and Shivaratri.

Nepali community has not built temple yet but they have always a project to establish it to preserve the Hindu culture and the tradition. Shreemad Bhagabat Mahayagya was organized to meet this target but it is still in process. Mr. Ram Hari Shasti has contributed his time and effort as a Hindu priest for Nepalese and Hindu community in Belgium.

Hindu Organizations

Sanatan Dharma Sewa Parisad

It is the oldest Hindu cultural association on Belgium. Different Puja and praying are organized by in special occasion like shivaratri and Shravan Month. Since last few years, it has been celebrating Shree Krishnastami festival with ISKCON in Durby.

Jayatu Sanskritam

This association is working to promote Hindu traditional culture in Belgium. It was the main organizer of “Shremad Bhagabat Mahapuran” held in Leuven in 2011. It was a huge Mahayaga organized for the first time in Belgium and around 5000 devotees were actively participated. Other associations like Sai Pariwar Belgium, Sanatan dharma sewa parisad were actively present there.

Satya Sai Pariwar

Satya sai bhajan mandali is next Hindu association of Nepalepse people in Belgium. They organize Sai bhajan every Sunday in Leuven, Antwerpen and Oostende. They have also collaboration with Satya Sai Kendra of Brussels.

ISKCON in Belgium

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is active in Belgium. An ISKCON Temple has been built in Septon-Durbuy and is known as 'Radhadesh.' ISKCON centers have been established in Antwerp and Gent. In other towns, where no such center exists, "local get-together programs" are organized periodically at the homes of private individuals where worship of The Lord is conducted. This is generally organized on festive occasions like Janmashtami and Deepavali.

ISKCON has the following activities in Belgium:

• Centre-1: ISKCON Center, Antwerpen, Belgium
• Centre-2: Local Get-together Program, Ghent, Belgium
• Center-3: ISKCON Radhadesh temple, in the Septon neighbourhood of Durbuy. This is the only proper ISKCON temple in Belgium. It hosts:
  • The main temple, a grand structure where daily worship is performed and festivals are celebrated
  • Bhaktivedanta Library Services (BLS), a substantial library and research facility
  • Bhaktivedanta College, a religious denomination educational campus, the only Hindu Vaishnava university in Belgium
  • Radhadesh Govinda, the local edition of ISKCON's Food for Life program

External links

• There are 5,000 Hindus, 3,000 Sikhs and 1,500 Hare Krishnas in Belgium
• The Hare Krishna Movement in Belgium
• Iskcon temple in Belgium
• Namaskar - Hindu Association of Brussels, Belgium
• Gujaratis families dominate 60 percent diamond trade in Belgium
• Brahmakumaris in Belgium
• Balinese Hindus in the Pairi Daiza Temple

References