Hinduism is followed in Martinique by a small number of
Indo-Martiniquais
Indo-Martiniquais are an ethnic group of Martinique, compromising approximately 10% of the population of the island. The Indo-Martiniquais are descendants of indentured labourers of the nineteenth century from India of primarily Tamil people, Tamil ...
. As of 2007, Hinduism constituted 0.3% of the population of Martinique.
History
After the abolition of
slavery
Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
in 1848, plantation owners filled their need for laborers by importing
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
ns from
the subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. Geopolitically, it includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India ...
, starting in 1853. These immigrants brought with them their Hindu religion. Many Hindu
temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called churches), Hinduism (whose temples ...
s are still in use in Martinique and, in 1987, a personal description of their secret ceremonies was published by a Hindu participant.
The symbols, gestures and myths of Hinduism were an important inspiration to the French artist
Paul Gauguin
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (, ; ; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French Post-Impressionist artist. Unappreciated until after his death, Gauguin is now recognized for his experimental use of colour and Synthetist style that were distinct fr ...
, who visited Martinique in 1887.
Demographics
Though
Indo-Martiniquais
Indo-Martiniquais are an ethnic group of Martinique, compromising approximately 10% of the population of the island. The Indo-Martiniquais are descendants of indentured labourers of the nineteenth century from India of primarily Tamil people, Tamil ...
comprise approximately 10% of the population of the island of
Martinique
Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...
, only a few 15% of them are still Hindus.
Hindus and quimboiseurs (another religion in Martinique) consider themselves also to be Catholic due to the lack of connection with the Hindus worldwide. Maldevidan Spiritists is a syncretic religion in Martinique which combine aspects of the Hindu religion with Catholicism associating the principal deity, Maldevidan (
Madurai Veeran), with Jesus Christ and the second most important deity, Mari-eman (
Mariamman), with the Virgin Mary. This is common in the northern regions of the island with many shrines and gathering places throughout the region. Rituals include playing drums, dancing on sharpened machetes, and sacrificing animals such as roosters and sheep.
Contemporary Status
Hinduism in Martinique constitutes a variation of popular Tamil Hinduism, which was characterized by the practice of animal sacrifice, the veneration of village deities and the use of the
Tamil language as the ceremonial language, although the language has lost its usage in the plantation and post-plantation society.
The central figures of Hindus here are Hindu goddess
Mariamman known locally as ''Mariémen'' and
Madurai Veeran locally known as ''Madevilen''. There is a historic Hindu temple in
Basse-Pointe
Basse-Pointe (; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Baspwent) is a town and commune in the French overseas department and region, and island of Martinique.
Geography Climate
Basse-Pointe has a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classificati ...
in Martinique built in the 19th century, which is still in use.
In recent years there has been a revival of Hinduism in Martinique, including Hindu mela programmes.
References
Adherents.com
Religion in Martinique
Martinique
Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...
Martinique
Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...
{{Martinique-stub