Hinduism in Islamabad Capital Territory

Hindus of Islamabad
Historical important Rama Temple at Saidpur Village
Total population
Approximately 947 (2023 est.)
0.04% of total Islamabad Capital Territory population
Languages
Sanskrit (sacred)
Sindhi, Punjabi, Urdu

Hinduism in Islamabad Capital Territory is a religious minority, constituting a very small portion of the region’s population. While Islam is the dominant religion, a small number of Hindus, primarily migrants or civil servants from other parts of Pakistan, reside in Islamabad.[1]

History

The area surrounding modern-day Islamabad has a long and diverse religious history. Archaeological evidence points to the presence of ancient Hindu and Buddhist communities in the region. In the Margalla Hills, several caves exist that are believed to have been used by Hindu sadhus and ascetics for meditation in ancient times.[2] Of them, the Shah Allah Ditta caves also contains paintings of Hindu origin. Before Partition, many Hindu families were living in Shah Allah Ditta village and the caves were used for daily worship.[3] Currently, the custodian of the caves is a muslim family, a responsibility granted by the Hindu family after they left the region during Partition.[4]

Another notable historical site is the Ram temple in Saidpur Village, at the foot of the Margalla Hills. The temple was historically dedicated to the Hindu deity Rama and served as a center of worship for the local Hindu population prior to Partition. The temple complex has since been partially restored as a heritage site by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), though it no longer functions as an active place of worship.[5]

Demographics

The Hindu population in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has remained a small minority over the decades. According to census data and estimates:

Hindu Population in Islamabad Capital Territory
Year Hindu Population Percentage of Total Population
1998 205 0.025% [6]
2017 737 0.037% [7]
2023 883 0.039% [8]

According to the 1998 census, 205 Hindus resided in Islamabad Capital Territory, accounting for approximately 0.025% of the total population of 805,235.[9] The 2017 census recorded 737 Hindus, comprising about 0.04% of the population.[7] In the 2023 census, the Hindu population was reported as 883 out of a total population of 2,283,244, making up approximately 0.039%.[10]

However according to other sources, the Hindu population is around 3000.[11][12]

Places of worship

Until recently, Islamabad had no fully functioning Hindu temple. In 2020, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) approved the allotment of land for the construction of the Sri Krishna Mandir and cremation site in Sector H-9. However, construction was halted due to legal challenges and political opposition.[13]

There is also a historically significant Ram temple in Saidpur Village, although it is not actively maintained.[14]

Current situation

As of 2025, Islamabad Capital Territory does not have a fully operational Hindu temple or officially sanctioned cremation facility.[13][15] Due to this, the religious observances, such as Diwali and Holi, are typically held in private homes, embassy compounds or outside the capital territory(in the temples in Rawalpindi)[14] and for the cremation, hindus have to go outside the capital territory.[16]

The Hindus living in Islamabad are shifted mostly from Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to serious law and order situations in their native areas.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bharat, E. T. V. (2020-07-04). "Pakistan halts Krishna temple construction in Islamabad". ETV Bharat News. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  2. ^ "Ancient caves in Margalla Hills show signs of early Hindu worship". The Express Tribune. 2022-02-06. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  3. ^ APP (2024-01-02). "Minister lays foundation of Shah Allah Ditta caves' development". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  4. ^ APP (2021-04-15). "Shah Allah Ditta Caves gaining popularity with tourists". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  5. ^ "Saidpur's Ram Mandir now a tourist site, not a temple". Dawn. 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  6. ^ "1998 Census Report of Pakistan". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  7. ^ a b "2017 Census". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  8. ^ "2023 Population and Housing Census". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  9. ^ "1998 Census Report of Pakistan". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  10. ^ "2023 Population and Housing Census". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  11. ^ Ali, Kalbe (2020-06-27). "PM approves grant for construction of Hindu temple in Islamabad". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  12. ^ Ali, Kalbe (2020-09-20). "Temple in Islamabad is our requirement, says Hindu Council". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  13. ^ a b "Pakistan halts construction of Hindu temple in Islamabad". BBC News. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  14. ^ a b "Hindus to celebrate Diwali in Islamabad amid no temple". The Express Tribune. 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  15. ^ "Construction of Hindu temple in Islamabad halted". Dawn. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  16. ^ Azeem, Muhammad (2016-02-23). "Allot cremation grounds, Hindus exhort govt". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  17. ^ Ali, Kalbe (2020-09-20). "Temple in Islamabad is our requirement, says Hindu Council". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.