Hinduism in Italy
{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox religious group|group=Italian Hindus|population=223,000 (2023)
{{increase}} (0.4%) of total population|image_size=|image_caption=ISKCON devotees in Venice, Italy|religions=Hinduism|languages=Sacred
Sanskrit
Majority
Hindi, English, Tamil and other Indian diaspora languages, some also speak Italian|image=File:UrmilaDeviOnHarinamWithIps2003Italy.jpg|regions=Rome, Milan, Venice}}{{Hinduism by country}}
File:Prabhupada desh.jpg Mandir in Albettone, Vicenza.]]
Hinduism is practised by 0.4% of the people in Italy. It is practised by 0.1% of the Italian citizens and 2.9% of the immigrant population.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cesnur.com/il-pluralismo-religioso-italiano-nel-contesto-postmoderno-2/|title = Il pluralismo religioso italiano nel contesto postmoderno | le Religioni in Italia}} In 2012, there were about 90,000 Hindus in Italy.[http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/table-religious-composition-by-country-in-numbers/ Table: Religious Composition by Country, in Numbers] Pew Research Center (December 2012) In 2015, the population increased to 120,000. As of 2023, the population is around 223,000 - the second largest Hindu community in Europe after the United Kingdom, and the largest Hindu community in the European Union.
Demographics
{{Historical populations
|title = Hindu population in Italy
|type =
|footnote =
|align = right
|width =
|state =
|shading =
|pop_name =
|percentages =
|source =
|2012 | 90,000
|2015 | 120,000
|2021 | 180,000
|2023 | 223,000
}}
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Percent ! Increase |
|---|
| 2012
| 0.1% | style="background:" | - |
| 2015
| 0.2% | style="background: green" | +0.1% |
| 2021
| 0.3% | style="background: green" | +0.1% |
| 2023
| 0.4% | style="background: green" | +0.1% |
Official recognition as a religion
In the mid-2000s, Hindus were pressing for official recognition in Italy. Unione Induista Italia, a prominent organisation representing Hindus in Italy, had signed in 2007 an Intente with the Italian government. The document was then waiting for approval by the Italian Parliament. Afterwards, Hinduism was granted official recognition by the Italian Parliament in 2012 alongside Buddhism.{{cite news| title =Italian Parliament Grants Official Recognition to Hinduism and Buddhism| newspaper =Hinduism Today| date = December 14, 2012| url =http://www.hinduismtoday.com/blogs-news/hindu-press-international/italian-parliament-grants-offical-recognition-to-hinduism-and-buddhism/12581.html| access-date =July 19, 2015}} On 11 December 2012, the Italian Parliament ratified an official agreement (Intesa) with the Italian Hindu Union (L.31/12/2012 n. 246). As declared in Article 24 of the Law of agreement, Dipavali or Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is recognized in Italy as the official Hindu religious festival of the Hindu organization.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hinduism.it/en/unione-induista/|title = About us – Unione Induista Italiana}}
Matha Gitananda Ashram
It is one of the three Hindu monasteries in Europe. The Hindu monastery Matha Gitananda Ashrama is located in Località Pellegrino in the Municipality of Altare. It stands on a hill 520m high, in the inland of Savona.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ashramgita.com/chi-siamo/?lang=en|title = About us – matha}}
See also
{{Portal|Hinduism|Italy}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons Category}}
- [http://www.c-s-b.org/en/ Centro Studi Bhaktivedanta- Center in Italy for study of Vaishnava history and philosophy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219071935/http://www.c-s-b.org/en/ |date=2018-02-19 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061109054913/http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1997/9/1997-9-18.shtml Italy's Hindu Controversy]
{{Hinduism in Europe}}
{{Religion in Italy}}