Hinduism in Arunachal Pradesh
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Hinduism is the second largest religion in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. According to the 2011 Census of India, Hindus constituted 401,876 persons or 29.04% of the state's population, making Hinduism one of the major religions in the state alongside Christianity and indigenous faiths.[1]
Parshuram Kund in Lohit district, a major Hindu pilgrimage site. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 401,876 (29.04% of Arunachal Pradesh's population)  | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Lohit | 99,020 (67.95%) |
| Anjaw | 13,088 (61.83%) |
| Namsai | 54,452 (56.74%) |
| Lower Dibang Valley | 28,915 (53.47%) |
| Dibang Valley | 3,141 (39.24%) |
| West Kameng | 31,265 (37.24%) |
| Papum Pare | 57,027 (32.30%) |
| Changlang | 47,683 (32.17%) |
History
Evidence of Hindu cultural and religious motifs in the region dates to historic periods and is reflected in archaeological remains and local traditions identified in academic studies. Archaeological sites such as Bhismaknagar (near Roing, Lower Dibang Valley) contain ruins and artefacts that indicate early historic contacts with broader Indian cultural worlds; these sites have been documented by the Archaeological Survey of India and by state tourism/archaeology publications.[2]
Local histories and academic research note the presence of Hindu pilgrimage traditions in the region (for example, Parshuram Kund in Lohit District), and describe the long-term interplay between indigenous religious systems, Buddhism and Hindu practices in the region's cultural history.[3][4]
Scholarly work has also examined the changing religious profile of Arunachal Pradesh — including the growth and decline of particular faith communities and the influence of modernisation, migration and missionary activity on religious change in the 20th and 21st centuries.[5]
Demographics
As per 2011 census, the religious composition in 2011 for Arunachal Pradesh included Christians (30.26%), Hindus (29.04%), Buddhists (11.77%), followers of indigenous/other religions (26.20%), Muslims (1.95%) and smaller numbers of Sikhs and Jains.[1]
| Religion | 1971[6] | 1981[6] | 1991[7] | 2001[8] | 2011[9] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Buddhism | 61,400 | 13.13 | 86,483 | 13.69 | 111,372 | 12.88 | 143,028 | 13.03 | 162,815 | 11.77 |
| Christianity | 3,684 | 0.79 | 27,306 | 4.32 | 89,013 | 10.30 | 205,548 | 18.72 | 418,732 | 30.26 |
| Hinduism | 102,832 | 22.00 | 184,732 | 29.24 | 320,212 | 37.04 | 379,935 | 34.6 | 401,876 | 29.04 |
| Islam | 842 | 0.18 | 5,073 | 0.80 | 11,922 | 1.38 | 20,675 | 1.88 | 27,045 | 1.95 |
| Jainism | 39 | 0.01 | 42 | 0.01 | 64 | 0.01 | 216 | 0.02 | 771 | 0.06 |
| Sikhism | 1,255 | 0.27 | 1,231 | 0.19 | 1,205 | 0.14 | 1,865 | 0.17 | 3,287 | 0.24 |
| ORP | 296,674 | 63.46 | 326,000 | 51.6 | 313,118 | 36.22 | 337,399 | 30.73 | 362,553 | 26.2 |
| Not stated | 785 | 0.17 | 972 | 0.15 | 17,652 | 2.04 | 9,302 | 0.85 | 6,648 | 0.48 |
| Total | 467,511 | 100 | 631,839 | 100 | 864,558 | 100 | 1,097,968 | 100 | 1,383,727 | 100 |
District-wise distribution
According to the Census of India 2011, Hindus constitute about 29.04% of the total population of Arunachal Pradesh. The following table shows the Hindu population by district as per the 2011 Census:[1]
| District | Total population | Hindu population | Percentage of Hindus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tawang | 49,977 | 11,842 | 23.69% |
| West Kameng | 83,947 | 31,265 | 37.24% |
| East Kameng | 78,690 | 12,333 | 15.67% |
| Papum Pare | 176,573 | 57,027 | 32.30% |
| Kurung Kumey | 92,076 | 4,859 | 5.28% |
| Kra Daadi | 46,704 | 2,452 | 5.25% |
| Lower Subansiri | 83,030 | 9,551 | 11.50% |
| Upper Subansiri | 83,448 | 13,474 | 16.15% |
| West Siang | 112,274 | 15,881 | 14.14% |
| East Siang | 99,214 | 27,854 | 28.07% |
| Siang | 31,920 | 4,908 | 15.38% |
| Upper Siang | 35,320 | 5,261 | 14.90% |
| Lower Siang | 65,867 | 14,520 | 22.05% |
| Dibang Valley | 8,004 | 3,141 | 39.24% |
| Lower Dibang Valley | 54,080 | 28,915 | 53.47% |
| Anjaw | 21,167 | 13,088 | 61.83% |
| Lohit | 145,726 | 99,020 | 67.95% |
| Namsai | 95,950 | 54,452 | 56.74% |
| Changlang | 148,226 | 47,683 | 32.17% |
| Tirap | 111,975 | 20,682 | 18.47% |
| Longding | 60,734 | 5,894 | 9.71% |
| Total | 1,383,727 | 401,876 | 29.04% |
Pilgrimage sites
Several sites in Arunachal Pradesh are important to Hindu pilgrims and to the local expression of Hindu culture:
Parshuram Kund
Parshuram Kund (Lohit District) is a major Hindu pilgrimage site associated with the epic tradition of Parashurama; the state and central government have supported development of pilgrimage amenities and mela infrastructure. The Parshuram Kund mela attracts devotees from across the Northeast and neighbouring states and is recognised in state tourism planning documents.[3][4]
Malinithan Temple
Malinithan Temple is an archaeological and pilgrimage site located near Likabali in the Lower Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The site contains the ruins of an ancient temple complex dedicated primarily to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and is one of the most important evidences of early Hindu influence in the region.[10]
According to local legends and references in Assamese literature, the site is associated with the story of Lord Krishna and Rukmini. It is believed that Krishna and Rukmini, on their way from Bhismaknagar to Dwarka after their marriage, were welcomed here by Goddess Parvati (Malini). Hence, the name Malinithan—meaning “the abode of Malini.”[11]
Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have revealed intricately carved stone sculptures, including images of Indra on Airavata, Surya, Nandi, and panels depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. The stylistic features of the carvings show strong affinities with the early medieval art of the Brahmaputra valley, suggesting cultural exchange between present-day Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.[11]
Bhismaknagar
Bhismaknagar (Lower Dibang Valley) an archaeological complex with remains of brick constructions and structural ruins that have been discussed in ASI publications and district tourism material as evidence of early historical cultural connections in the region.[2]
Government tourism and district administration sites list other religious and historic places that reflect the cultural pluralism of the state and the local presence of Hindu traditions in parts of the state’s plains and foothill zones.[12]
Practices, festivals and cultural interaction
In Arunachal Pradesh, Hindu festivals and pilgrimage observances are often localised and coexist with indigenous rituals and Buddhist traditions in mixed cultural zones. The Parshuram Kund mela (annual bathing festival) is an example of a large Hindu pilgrimage event that also has economic and cultural effects on the locality and attracts official attention from tourism and administration authorities.[3]
Academic literature emphasises that the religious landscape of Arunachal Pradesh is characterised by pluralism and interaction: indigenous animistic systems (often categorised in official statistics as "Other Religions and Persuasions"), Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism interact in different ways across districts, shaped by historical migration, conversion movements and contemporary politics.[5][13]
Among the Idu Mishmi people of Arunachal Pradesh, local oral narratives link their ancestry to King Bhīṣmaka of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, the father of Rukmini, who was married to Lord Krishna. According to these traditions, the ancient city of Kundil Nagar—identified with the present-day archaeological site of Bhismaknagar—was ruled by Bhīṣmaka, and the Idu Mishmis consider themselves his descendants. The story of Krishna’s marriage to Rukmini is celebrated annually in the region during the Bhismaknagar Festival.[5][14]
Local versions of the Ramayana in Arunachal Pradesh
Several tribal communities in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring regions preserve unique oral traditions of the Ramayana story. For example, the Khamti people of eastern Arunachal Pradesh have a version called “Lik Cao-Lamang” (or “Cao-Alang-Lamang”) which is distinct from the mainstream Sanskrit/Valmiki Ramayana, incorporating Buddhist, local tribal and Southeast Asian influences. [15]
A broader overview of the Ramayana tradition in the Northeast notes that tribal narratives frequently adapt the story: for instance the folk song of the Rabha people speaks of “let’s go and see the horse of Sri Rama” and the narrative among the Khamtis, the Mishmi people and others in Arunachal and Assam have “folk tales that have closeness to Ramakatha.” [16]
One scholarly article mentions that archaeological sites and legends in Arunachal connect the region to both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, suggesting how the epic narratives have been localised in the region’s cultural memory. [17]
These versions show how the Ramayana motif travels beyond its classical form and is adapted by tribal cultures, giving the region its distinct imprint of the epic’s tradition.
Politics and law
Religious matters, including conversion and the interplay of tribal customary law and state law, have been politically salient in Arunachal Pradesh. Recent news reporting and government notices discussed the state's Freedom of Religion Act (1978) and debates about its enforcement, which commentators note could affect religious dynamics in the state.[18]