Hinduism in Finland
Encyclopedia
Hinduism is a very minor religious
faith in Finland
. The main established religion in Finland is Christianity
, especially Lutheran Christianity
.
Indians constitute 0.220% of the total population of Finland, though it is unknown what percentage of these Indians are Hindu, versus other major Indian religions. An estimated 250 Tamils live in Finland. Finland acquired a significant Hindu
population for the first time around the turn of the 21st century due to the recruitment of information technology
workers from India
by companies such as Nokia
.
In 2009, Hindu leaders in Finland protested the inclusion of a photograph that "denigrates Hinduism" in an exhibit at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum later removed the reference to Hinduism from the photograph.
There is an International Society for Krishna Consciousness
temple near Helsinki
city centre. The Finnish Government
has not sanctioned any land for ISKCON or any other kind of Hindu temple.
Some people formed a trust for a Hindu temple project in Finland but without the support of government and other business institutions nothing concrete could be achieved. Hindu festivals like Holi
and Diwali
have been celebrated in Finland and are gaining more popularity.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
faith in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. The main established religion in Finland is Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, especially Lutheran Christianity
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
.
Indians constitute 0.220% of the total population of Finland, though it is unknown what percentage of these Indians are Hindu, versus other major Indian religions. An estimated 250 Tamils live in Finland. Finland acquired a significant Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
population for the first time around the turn of the 21st century due to the recruitment of information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
workers from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
by companies such as Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
.
In 2009, Hindu leaders in Finland protested the inclusion of a photograph that "denigrates Hinduism" in an exhibit at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum later removed the reference to Hinduism from the photograph.
Hindu Groups in Finland
- Ananda Marga
- Chinmoy Mission
- Brahma Kumaris, Helsinki
- Sathya Sai Organisation
There is an International Society for Krishna Consciousness
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
temple near Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
city centre. The Finnish Government
Government of Finland
Finland is a republic with a representative democracy governed accordingly to the principles of parliamentarism. Legislative power is vested in the Parliament of Finland . Executive power is exercised by the Cabinet, officially termed Council of State , which is led by the Prime Minister, the Head...
has not sanctioned any land for ISKCON or any other kind of Hindu temple.
Some people formed a trust for a Hindu temple project in Finland but without the support of government and other business institutions nothing concrete could be achieved. Hindu festivals like Holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
and Diwali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
have been celebrated in Finland and are gaining more popularity.
External links
- Finland Hindus To Build a Temple
- Sivalingam, 63, of Helsinki, was the first Srilankan Hindu to arrive in Finland
- Amma organization in Finland
- Finland: Few individuals go North by Urmila Goel
- ISKCON Finland Finnish Language Website
- Blissful Scenes from Sri Krsna Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada Avirbhava Mahotsava in Helsinki, Finland
- Finland´s First Ratha Yatra Festival In Helsinki May 27th 2006