Hinduism in Seychelles

Hinduism in Seychelles is the second-largest religion after Christianity, with more than 5.4% of the population. The Hindu following in Seychelles has seen an increase in the community with the organization of the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam and the consecration of the Navasakti Vinayagar Temple. The increase in size and popularity of Hinduism caused the Government to declare Taippoosam Kavadi Festival a holiday.

History of Hindus in Seychelles

In 1901, there were 332 Hindu families out of a population of 19,237 and roughly 3,500 Tamil-speaking people.
The organization of the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam in 1984 and the consecration of the Navasakti Vinayagar Temple in May 1992 were landmarks for the resurgence of Indian cultural activities apart from the religious awakening.

Demographics

Year	Percent	Increase
1994	1.3%	-
2002	2.1%	0.8%
2011	2.4%	0.3%
2022	5.4%	3.0%

According to the 2022 Census, there were 5,508 Hindus in Seychelles constituting 5.4% its population. This is an increase from 2,174 Hindus or 2.4 % from 2010 Census. The 2002 census reported 1,700 Hindus constituting 2.1 % of the population. In 1994, there were 953 Hindus constituting 1.3 % of the country's population.

Hindu population by region

Hindus form majority in the Outer Islands region.

Region	Total Population	Hindu Population	Percentage of Hindus
Central	30,145	1,083	3.6
East-South	27,072	2,229	8.2
West	15,058	303	2
North	17,843	797	4.5
Praslin	7,882	207	2.6
La Digue & Inner Islands	3,624	182	5
Outer Islands	988	707	71.6

Hindu population by districts

Hindus form majority in the Outer Islands districts of Assumption, Coetivy, Darros, Farquhar, Marie-Louise, Platte, Poivre, Providence, Remire and these districts are exclusively populated by Hindus. Outside the Outer Islands, significant Hindu population is found in Cascade, Takamaka, Saint Louis etc

Region	District	Total Population	Hindu Population	Percentage of Hindus
Central	English River	3,508	124	3.5
Central	Mont Buxton	2,778	47	1.7
Central	Saint Louis	3,267	205	6.3
Central	Bel Air	2,619	136	5.2
Central	Mont Fleuri	3,506	150	4.3
Central	Plaisance	3,685	125	3.4
Central	Roche Caiman	3,157	242	7.7
Central	Les Mamelles	2,215	41	1.9
Central	Ile Perseverance	5,410	13	0.2
East-South	Cascade	6,659	1,337	20.1
East-South	Pointe Larue	3,267	104	3.2
East-South	Anse Aux Pins	3,898	91	2.3
East-South	Anse Royale	4,552	146	3.2
East-South	Takamaka	3,528	330	9.4
East-South	Au Cap	5,168	221	4.3
West	Baie Lazare	4,265	75	1.8
West	Anse Boileau	4,595	77	1.7
West	Grand Anse Mahé	3,425	131	3.8
West	Port Glaud	2,773	20	0.7
North	Belombre	3,823	126	3.3
North	Beau Vallon	4,740	158	3.3
North	Glacis	3,803	71	1.9
North	Anse Etoile	5,477	442	8.1
Praslin	Baie Ste Anne	4,272	122	2.9
Praslin	Grand Anse Praslin	3,610	85	2.4
La Digue & Inner Islands	Bird	1	0	0
La Digue & Inner Islands	Denis	86	0	0
La Digue & Inner Islands	Fregate	13	0	0
La Digue & Inner Islands	La Digue	3,133	159	5.1
La Digue & Inner Islands	North	88	10	11.4
La Digue & Inner Islands	Silhouette	303	13	4.3
Outer Islands	Aldabra	3	0	0
Outer Islands	Alphonse	112	13	11.6
Outer Islands	Assumption	7	7	100
Outer Islands	Coetivy	22	22	100
Outer Islands	Darros	110	110	100
Outer Islands	Desroches	338	162	47.9
Outer Islands	Farquhar	17	14	82.4
Outer Islands	Marie-Louise	8	8	100
Outer Islands	Platte	353	353	100
Outer Islands	Poivre	9	9	100
Outer Islands	Providence	5	5	100
Outer Islands	Remire	4	4	100

Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam

The Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam, over a short span of seventeen years, has successfully established and entrenched some strong foundations for the preservation, consolidation and further flowering of the Hindu culture. The ever-popular kavadi festival and special Hindu festivals are covered in Tamil and English in the national media and there is a wide coverage of such events over national radio and television.

Arulmigu Navasakti Vinayagar Temple

The Arulmigu Navasakti Vinayagar Temple is the first and the only Hindu temple in Seychelles that has Ganesha as the presiding deity. Since 1999, Ganesha has been elevated to this position. Apart from the presiding deity, icons of Murugan, Nadarajah, Durga, Sreenivasa Perumal, Bhairawa and Chandekeswarar are enshrined in the inner mandapam of the temple. Prayers are performed for the different deities on special occasions.
Taippoosam Kavadi Festival, which began in Seychelles in the inner courtyard of the temple during 1993, is now conducted in the outer courtyard and a chariot kavadi is also taken out in procession. This festival has gained popularity as a national festival, so much so that as from 1998 the government has declared it a holiday for Hindus.

Famous Seychelles Hindus

Satya Naidu- first Hindu member of Seychelles National Assembly.