Hinduism in the United Kingdom

The British Hindu population includes those who came directly from the Indian subcontinent, descendants of those Hindus who had originally migrated to other countries but later resettled in the United Kingdom, and those born and raised in the UK. It is not unusual to find third or fourth generation Hindus.

There have been three main waves of migration of Hindus in the UK, and most of the Hindu migration has occurred after World War II.{{cite book | last=Fredman | first=Sandra | title=Discrimination law | publisher=Oxford University Press | location=Oxford England New York | year=2011 | isbn=978-0-19-958442-0 | page=81}} The first wave was at the time of British India's independence and partition in 1947. Also, in the early 1960s the Conservative health minister Enoch Powell recruited a large number of doctors from the Indian sub-continent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8128957/Enoch-Powell-was-not-an-out-and-out-racist.html|title='Enoch Powell was not an out-and-out racist'|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=12 November 2010|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=14 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114194139/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/8128957/Enoch-Powell-was-not-an-out-and-out-racist.html|url-status=live}} The second wave occurred in the 1970s mainly from East Africa especially due to the expulsion of Asians from Uganda.{{Cite web|date=2012-03-13|title=Uganda: The Legacy of Idi Amin's Expulsion of Asians in 1972|url=https://www.ibtimes.com/uganda-legacy-idi-amins-expulsion-asians-1972-214289|access-date=2021-06-10|website=International Business Times|archive-date=2017-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109081243/http://www.ibtimes.com/uganda-legacy-idi-amins-expulsion-asians-1972-214289|url-status=live}} Later, communities included those from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius and Fiji. The last wave of migration began in the 1990s and is a result of the United Kingdom's immigration policy, which made studying and immigration to the UK easier. This wave also included Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka and professionals including doctors and software engineers from India.

File:Simon_King_Rathayatra_Chariot_Festival_Swami_Ayyappan_High_Street_North_Manor_Park_East_Ham_Chariot_Construction.jpg

File:Simon_King_Hindu_Tamil_Walthamstow_Rathayatra_Bus.jpg

According to United Kingdom's Office of National Statistics, of all ethnic minorities in Britain, the British Hindus had the highest rate of economic activity in 2011 and 2018,[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_310454.pdf Full story: What does the Census tell us about religion in 2011?] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160108071649/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171776_310454.pdf |date=2016-01-08 }} Office of National Statistics, UK Government (May 2013){{Cite web |title=Religion, education and work in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religioneducationandworkinenglandandwales/february2020#economic-activity |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |archive-date=2022-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005134323/https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religioneducationandworkinenglandandwales/february2020#economic-activity |url-status=live }} and a median net wealth of {{GBP|206,000}} in 2006 (compared to median net wealth of {{GBP|223,000}} for British Christians).Karen Rowlingson, [http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/research/SocialSciences/Key-Facts-Background-Paper-BPCIV.pdf Policy Commission on the Distribution of Wealth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808083550/http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/research/SocialSciences/Key-Facts-Background-Paper-BPCIV.pdf |date=2017-08-08 }} University of Birmingham (2012) In addition to this, according to survey conducted by Trust for London in 2012, Hindus living in London have the second highest median net wealth of £277,400 following British Jews' with the highest median wealth of £312,500.{{Cite web |title=Inequalities and disadvantage in London: Focus on Religion and Belief |url=https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/news/inequalities-and-disadvantage-london-focus-religion-and-belief/ |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Trust for London |archive-date=2022-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005134325/https://www.trustforlondon.org.uk/news/inequalities-and-disadvantage-london-focus-religion-and-belief/ |url-status=live }} Hindu men are more likely than the general population to be entrepreneurs, and both Hindu men and women are more likely than the general population to have higher education.

Over a 20-year period, British Hindus also had the third-lowest poverty level (after British Christian and British Jews),Anthony Heath and Yaojun Li (2015), [http://csi.nuff.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/religion-and-poverty-working-paper.pdf Review of the relationship between religion and poverty] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505063032/http://csi.nuff.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/religion-and-poverty-working-paper.pdf |date=2015-05-05 }}, Nuffield College, Oxford and University of Manchester and the second-lowest rates of arrest, trial or imprisonment at 0.5% (after British Jews' 0.3%) among all ethnic groups tracked by UK's Ministry of Justice.Gavin Berman & Aliyah Dar (July 2013), [http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn04334.pdf Prison Population Statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224031328/http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn04334.pdf |date=2020-02-24 }} 1991-2012, Social and General Statistics, Ministry of Justice, ONS, UK Government Hindus constitute less than 0.5% of the total Prison population in Britain (compared to 48% for Christians and 15% for Muslims).https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04334/SN04334.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224031328/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN04334/SN04334.pdf |date=2020-02-24 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}} According to Office for National Statistics, British Hindus also have the second highest employment rate of 76% amongst all religious groups in UK followed by people with no religious affiliation at 77%. Employees who identified as Hindu have consistently had the second-highest median hourly earnings; in 2018, this was £13.80. 4 in 10 of those who identified as Hindu were occupied in high-skill occupations which was second in the country following British Jews. British who identified as Hindus have the highest percentage with a degree or equivalent qualification.

{{See also|List of Hindu temples in the United Kingdom}}

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A University of Derby report states that there are considerable linguistic and theosophical diversities among Hindus in the United Kingdom, yet they also share certain core beliefs, rites and festivals of Hinduism.{{cite book | last=Weller | first=Paul | title=Religious diversity in the UK : contours and issues | publisher=Continuum | location=London u.a | year=2008 | isbn=978-0-8264-9898-4}}

UK-wide Hindu organisations include the National Council of Hindu Temples, the Hindu Council UK and the Hindu Forum of Britain—national umbrella organisations for Hindus in the UK.{{cite book |surname=Zavos |given=John |chapter=Chapter 6. Hindu Organisation and the Negotiation of Public Space in Contemporary Britain |editor=John Zavos |display-editors=etal |title=Public Hinduisms |url={{Google books|uuuICwAAQBAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |year=2012 |place=New Delhi |publisher=SAGE Publ. India |isbn=978-81-321-1696-7}} The National Council of Hindu Temples UK which is the oldest UK-wide Hindu organisation. It comprises over 300 Hindu temples (mandirs) and Hindu faith organisations.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180520054310/http://www.nchtuk.org/ Article title]}} National Council of Hindu Temples UK, accessed 3 August 2009 The Hindu Council UK representing almost 400 affiliated cultural and religious organisations of various Hindu denominations including temples,[http://hinducouncil.net/index.php/about-us/affiliate-members Affiliates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212070705/http://www.hinducouncil.net/index.php/about-us/affiliate-members |date=2013-02-12 }} Hindu Council UK, accessed 4 August 2009 and the Hindu Forum of Britain, with nearly 300 member organisations.[http://www.hfb.org.uk/Default.aspx?sID=18&lID=0 About us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520054616/http://www.hfb.org.uk/Default.aspx?sID=18&lID=0 |date=2018-05-20 }} About us, accessed 12 December 2008

There are regional organizations that organise community events and social affairs in the UK, such as The Hindu Council of Birmingham.{{cite book | last=Weller | first=Paul | title=Religions in the UK 2007-2010 | publisher=Multi-Faith Centre at the University of Derby | location=Derby | year=2011 | isbn=978-0-901437-30-3}}

There were over 150 Hindu temples in the UK in 2012{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180520055011/http://www.nchtuk.org/index.php/extensions/hindu-temples-in-the-uk LIST OF HINDU TEMPLES IN THE UK]}} National Council of Hindu Temples (UK), accessed 3 May 2015 with 30 Temples in the London area alone.http://allhindutemples.com/?multi_city=London {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226013844/http://allhindutemples.com/?multi_city=London |date=2014-02-26 }} 30 Temples in the London area Slough Hindu Temple was built by the Slough Hindu Cultural Society - formally opened in 1981 - it was the first purpose-built Hindu Temple in the British Isles. However, the first Hindu Temple in the UK was opened in the late-1920s near Earls Court in London and it was functional for about four years.Bimal Krishnadas (edited by), Directory of Hindu Temples in the UK, 2004-2006, page 7, published by the National Council of Hindu Trmples (UK), Leicester. In 2020, Historic England (HE) published A Survey of Hindu Buildings in England with the aim of providing information about buildings that Hindus use in England so that HE can work with communities to enhance and protect those buildings now and in the future. The scoping survey identified 187 Hindu temples in England.{{Cite web|last=Singh, Jasjit; Tomalin, Emma|date=2020|title=A Survey of Hindu Buildings in England. historic England Research Report 203/2020|url=https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16739&ru=%2FResults.aspx%3Fn%3D10&ry=2020&p=2|access-date=2020-06-16|website=research.historicengland.org.uk|archive-date=2020-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616143555/https://research.historicengland.org.uk/Report.aspx?i=16739&ru=%2FResults.aspx%3Fn%3D10&ry=2020&p=2|url-status=live}}

There is a diversity of Hindu-based organisations in the UK including the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) in Neasden (Greater London), the Chinmaya Mission, Ramakrishna Mission and Sai Organisation, each having large followings. SHYAM, an educational Hindu organisation teaches the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Shrimad Bhagavad, Vedas and Upanishads.{{cite web |url=http://www.gitaclass.org/ |title=Home |website=gitaclass.org |access-date=2013-10-31 |archive-date=2018-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413024849/http://www.gitaclass.org/ |url-status=live }} The predominant Hindu beliefs found in the UK include its Vedanta monist, Vedanta monotheistic and various sampradayas.Paul Weller, [http://www2.derby.ac.uk/multifaith-new/hinduism/51-a-short-introduction-to-hinduism Hindu Origins and Key Organisations in the UK] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716055719/http://www2.derby.ac.uk/multifaith-new/hinduism/51-a-short-introduction-to-hinduism |date=2015-07-16 }} University of Derby, United Kingdom Less of 1% of the Hindus in the UK identify themselves to be belonging to Divine Life Society, Hare Krishna and other organizations.Paul Weller, [http://www2.derby.ac.uk/multifaith-new/other-faiths/77-some-other-religious-groups-in-the-uk-key-information- Some ‘Other’ Religious Groups in the UK: Key Information]{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} University of Derby, United Kingdom

File:United Kingdom Leicester Belgrave Rd Diwali Lights 2006.jpg, United Kingdom.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-24796541 Leicester Diwali celebrations draw large crowds] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008191452/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-24796541 |date=2015-10-08 }} BBC News (3 November 2013)]]

Hindus in the United Kingdom celebrate major festivals such as Diwali. Homes and businesses are decorated with festive lights and Hindus gift sweets such as laddoo and barfi. Community events such as dances and parties bring Hindus and non-Hindus together. Leicester annually plays hosts to one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India.{{cite web|url=http://www.leicester.gov.uk/diwali/|title=Diwali – The Festival of Light|work=Leicester City Council|access-date=2015-05-03|archive-date=2018-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225122636/https://www.leicester.gov.uk/diwali/|url-status=dead}}

The Hindu festival of Diwali has begun to find acceptance into the larger British community.{{cite news|last=Roy|first=Amit|title=Dazzle at downing, colour at commons|url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/oct/251011-Dazzle-at-downing-colour-at-commons.htm|access-date=3 November 2013|newspaper=Mumbai Miday|date=25 October 2011|archive-date=4 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104191637/http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/oct/251011-Dazzle-at-downing-colour-at-commons.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Transcript of the Prime Minister's Diwali reception speech|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/transcript-of-the-prime-ministers-diwali-reception-speech|work=Gov.UK|date=20 November 2012|publisher=Government of the United Kingdom|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225122655/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/transcript-of-the-prime-ministers-diwali-reception-speech|url-status=live}} King Charles has attended Diwali celebrations at some of UK’s prominent Hindu temples, such as the Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden.{{cite news|last=PTI|title=Prince Charles, Camilla celebrate Diwali in UK|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Prince-Charles-Camilla-celebrate-Diwali-in-UK/articleshow/2532035.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104183044/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-11-10/uk/27962079_1_royal-couple-diwali-celebrations-temple|url-status=live|archive-date=4 November 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=10 November 2007}}{{cite web|title=Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall Celebrate Diwali at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London|url=http://www.mandir.org/news&events/2007/11/trhvisit/index.htm|work=www.mandir.org|publisher=BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha|access-date=3 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114112622/http://www.mandir.org/news%26events/2007/11/trhvisit/index.htm|archive-date=14 November 2012}}{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Jessica Cargill|title=Seven wonders of London: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/seven-wonders-of-london-baps-shri-swaminarayan-hindu-mandir|work=Time Out London|publisher=Time Out Group|access-date=3 November 2013|archive-date=14 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314003716/http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/seven-wonders-of-london-baps-shri-swaminarayan-hindu-mandir|url-status=dead}} Since 2009, Diwali has been celebrated every year at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the UK Prime Minister.{{cite news|last=PTI|title=Brown celebrates Diwali at 10, Downing Street, in a 'historic' first|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/Brown-celebrates-Diwali-at-10-Downing-Street-in-a-historic-first/articleshow/5134278.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104183112/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-10-17/uk/28096259_1_diwali-downing-street-joginder-sangar|url-status=live|archive-date=4 November 2013|access-date=3 November 2013|newspaper=The Times of India|date=17 October 2009}}

The Hindu Council UK is an umbrella organisation for Hindus living in the United Kingdom, and is one of several groups representing Hindus that are influential at the national level.{{cite journal |last1=Zavos |first1=John|title=Situating Hindu nationalism in the UK: Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the development of British Hindu identity|journal=Commonwealth & Comparative Politics |volume=48 |issue=1|year=2010|pages=2–22 |issn=1466-2043 |doi=10.1080/14662040903444475|s2cid=153791094}} It was set up in 1994. According to the Council's then-General Secretary, it faced opposition from the Sangh Parivar when it was founded. It collaborated with the Department for Communities and Local Government to explore how caste influenced public life in the UK. A debate on religious conversion hosted on its website reflected a Hindu nationalist perspective, and included contributors from the Vishva Hindu Parishad.

File:Hindus in the United Kingdom, 2021 UK census.png

{{Historical populations

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|1961|30,000

|1971|138,000

|1981|278,000

|1991|397,000

|2001|558,810

|2011|835,394

|2021|1,066,894}}

According to the 2021 Census, Hindus in England and Wales enumerated 1,032,775, or 1.7% of the population.{{Cite web |title=Religion, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021 |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |archive-date=2022-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129100449/https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/bulletins/religionenglandandwales/census2021 |url-status=live }} Northern Ireland recorded a population of 4,190, or 0.2% of the population. The equivalent census was recorded a year later in Scotland with a population of 29,929, making up 0.6% of the population. The local authorities with the highest number of Hindus were: Harrow (67,392: 25.8% of the population), Leicester (65,821: 17.9%), Brent (52,876: 15.6%), Redbridge (34,372: 11.1%) and Hillingdon (33,020: 10.8%).{{cite web |title=Religion, 2021, local authorities in England and Wales |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/dvc2206/fig2/datadownload.xlsx |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=29 November 2022 |archive-date=29 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129124057/https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/dvc2206/fig2/datadownload.xlsx |url-status=live }}

In the 2011 census, Hinduism was followed by 1.5% of the population of England, 0.34% in Wales and 0.31% in Scotland.{{Cite web|last=ONS|date=2010-07-02|title=Release Edition Reference Tables|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160107070948/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-01-07|access-date=2021-04-24|website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}{{Cite web|title=2011 Census: Key Results from Releases 2A to 2D|url=https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/documents/2011-census-key-results-from-releases-2a-to-2d/|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Scotland's Census|language=en|archive-date=2022-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602152934/https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/documents/2011-census-key-results-from-releases-2a-to-2d/|url-status=live}}

Nearly half of the 817,000 Hindus living in England and Wales were residents of the London metropolitan area.{{Cite web|title=Home - Office for National Statistics|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/|access-date=2021-04-24|website=www.ons.gov.uk|archive-date=1996-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961219001935/http://www.ons.gov.uk/|url-status=live}} About 300,000 British Hindus of all ages were born in the UK.

The Hindu population in the UK is predominantly urban, and has relatively higher representation in the professional and managerial positions.Robert Berkeley, [http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/publications/pdfs/ConnectingBritishHindus-2006.pdf Connecting British Hindus - An enquiry into the identity and public policy engagement of British Hindus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414230058/http://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/publications/pdfs/ConnectingBritishHindus-2006.pdf |date=2016-04-14 }} Runnymede Trust, Hindu Forum of Britain (2006)

File:Hindus in England and Wales.png

In the 2021 census for England and Wales, 77.2% of Hindus identified as Indian, 0.7% as either Pakistani or Bangladeshi, 15.6% were of other Asian heritage, 1.1% were of Mixed heritage, 0.7% as White, 0.2% identified as Black and the remaining 4.5% identified with other ethnic groups. The main places of birth were in South Asia at 528,096 (51.1% of the total Hindu population), the United Kingdom at 360,772 people (34.9%), South and Eastern Africa at 106,361 (10.3%), other parts of Europe at 14,300 (1.4%) and East and Southeast Asia at 9,767 (0.9%). Among individual countries outside of the UK, the countries of: India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Nepal, Uganda, Mauritius and Tanzania made up the most common countries of birth for Hindus residing in England and Wales.{{cite web |title=Country of birth (extended) and religion |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/RM031/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/2667ef12-ec2e-44e7-a356-aeca1205bf53#get-data |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=28 March 2023 |archive-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611024541/https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/RM031/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/2667ef12-ec2e-44e7-a356-aeca1205bf53#get-data |url-status=live }}

According to census records from 2011, 95.6% of the Hindus in England and Wales are ethnically Asian, with the 4.4% of the remainder being as follows: White 1.47%, Mixed 1.19%, Black 0.67% and other ethnicities 1% (including 0.13% Arab).{{Cite web|url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/business-transparency/freedom-of-information/what-can-i-request/previous-foi-requests/population/ethnicity-and-religion-by-age/dc2201ew---ethnic-group-and-religion.xls|title=UK Government Web Archive|website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk|access-date=2023-06-14|archive-date=2023-05-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510162709/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/business-transparency/freedom-of-information/what-can-i-request/previous-foi-requests/population/ethnicity-and-religion-by-age/dc2201ew---ethnic-group-and-religion.xls|url-status=live}}

A very large proportion of Hindus in the United Kingdom are ethnically Asian, mainly Indians whose ancestors immigrated to the United Kingdom for employment or took asylum due to poverty, discrimination and persecution.{{Cite journal|last=Robinson|first=Lena|date=2005-09-01|title=South Asians in Britain: Acculturation, Identity and Perceived Discrimination|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/097133360501700206|journal=Psychology and Developing Societies|language=en|volume=17|issue=2|pages=181–194|doi=10.1177/097133360501700206|s2cid=145467823|issn=0971-3336|url-access=subscription}}

Famous converts to Hinduism include:

• Lead Guitarist of the Beatles, George Harrison converted to Hinduism in the mid 1960s. Upon his death in 2001, he was cremated per Hindu rituals and his ashes consecrated into river Ganges.{{cite book | last=Tillery | first=Gary | title=Working class mystic : a spiritual biography of George Harrison | publisher=Quest Books/Theosophical Pub. House | year=2011 | isbn=978-0-8356-0900-5 | pages=91–148}}
• Philosopher John Levy also converted to Hinduism.
• Novelist Christopher Isherwood, converted to Hinduism and remained a Hindu until his death.{{Cite web|title=About Christopher Isherwood|url=http://www.isherwoodfoundation.org/biography.html|access-date=2021-06-06|website=www.isherwoodfoundation.org|archive-date=2017-06-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627074926/http://www.isherwoodfoundation.org/biography.html|url-status=dead}}
• Hindu scholar Krishna Dharma (formerly Kenneth Anderson), converted to Hinduism in 1979.
• In September 2006, Rev. David Ananda Hart made headlines when he converted to Hinduism whilst still remaining a priest of the Church of England.{{Cite news|date=2006-09-13|title=British priest in Kerala in conversion debate|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/british-priest-in-kerala-in-conversion-debate/article3074555.ece|access-date=2021-06-06|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=2020-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212184139/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/british-priest-in-kerala-in-conversion-debate/article3074555.ece|url-status=live}}

File:Official Portrait of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.jpg became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2022]]

In the 2017 general election, eight Hindu MPs (five Conservative and three Labour) were elected to Parliament.{{Cite web|title=Record number of Muslim MPs elected|url=https://muslimnews.co.uk/newspaper/home-news/record-number-muslim-mps-elected/|access-date=2021-06-06|website=The Muslim News|archive-date=2021-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606163226/https://muslimnews.co.uk/newspaper/home-news/record-number-muslim-mps-elected/|url-status=live}}

During the 2019 general election, The Times of India reported that supporters of Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were actively campaigning for the Tories in 48 marginal seats,{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/bjp-supporters-start-campaign-for-tories-in-uk-general-election/articleshow/71911496.cms |title=BJP support group bats for Tories in 48 key UK seats |date=5 November 2019 |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=5 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105112633/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/uk/bjp-supporters-start-campaign-for-tories-in-uk-general-election/articleshow/71911496.cms |url-status=live }} and the Today programme reported that it had seen WhatsApp messages sent to Hindus across the country urging them to vote Conservative.{{cite news |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/11/whats-behind-labour-partys-rift-hindu-voters |title=What's behind the Labour Party's rift with Hindu voters? |date=27 November 2019 |newspaper=New Statesman |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128155154/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/11/whats-behind-labour-partys-rift-hindu-voters |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50382791 |title=General election 2019: Labour seeks to calm Hindu voters' anger |date=12 November 2019 |work=BBC News |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213055349/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50382791 |url-status=live }} Some British Indians spoke out against what they saw as the BJP's meddling in the UK election.{{cite news |first=Haroon |last=Siddique |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/11/british-indians-warn-hindu-party-not-to-meddle-in-uk-elections |title=British Indians warn Hindu nationalist party not to meddle in UK elections |date=11 November 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date=15 February 2022 |archive-date=9 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230309151449/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/11/british-indians-warn-hindu-party-not-to-meddle-in-uk-elections |url-status=live }} The Hindu Council UK has been strongly critical of Labour, going as far as to say that Labour is "anti-Hindu"{{cite web |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/108229/fresh-blow-labour-hindu-council |title=Fresh blow for Labour as Hindu Council claims party discriminates against community |date=27 November 2019 |website=Politics Home |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=27 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127195204/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/labour-party/jeremy-corbyn/news/108229/fresh-blow-labour-hindu-council |url-status=live }} and objected to the party's condemnation of the Indian government's actions in the disputed territory of Kashmir.

In 2022, Rishi Sunak became the first practicing Hindu British Prime Minister, as well as the first non-white Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title='Historic moment' as Rishi Sunak becomes first British Asian prime minister |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-first-british-asian-prime-minister-b2209433.html |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

The 2021 census for England and Wales recorded 66.9% of Hindus either owning their home with a mortgage (43.6%) or outright (23.3%). 27.6% rent privately or live rent free and the remaining 5.5% live in social housing.{{cite web |title=Religion and tenure of household |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/RM134/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/a3171dc1-9548-4b7b-b0ac-48ef1b3c5394#get-data |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=28 March 2023}}

Hindus are on average the second wealthiest religious group after Jewish people in the UK. Employees who identified as Hindu have consistently had the second-highest median hourly earnings; in 2018, this was £13.80.{{cite web | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religioneducationandworkinenglandandwales/february2020#economic-activity | title=Religion, education and work in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics }}

{{See also|Hinduphobia}}

A report authored by Robert Berkeley of Runnymede Trust states that the Hindu community groups and organizations in the United Kingdom face systematic disadvantage and discrimination. They face a legacy of inequality, targeting and stereotyping in daily life and by the media, which has left the Hindu community isolated, with a limited capacity to engage with other communities, or address the problems they face.{{cite book | last=Dias (Editor: Charles Westin) | first=Nuno | title=Identity processes and dynamics in multi-ethnic Europe | publisher=Amsterdam University Press | location=Amsterdam | year=2010 | isbn=978-90-8964-046-8 | pages=179–180}}

Scholars state that the Hindu community in the United Kingdom, and Europe in general, has faced discrimination in immigration policies adopted by the local governments.{{cite book | last=Skutsch | first=Carl | title=Encyclopedia of the world's minorities | publisher=Routledge | location=New York | year=2005 | isbn=978-1-57958-470-2 | page=554}}{{cite book | last=Weller | first=Paul | title=Religious discrimination in England and Wales | publisher=Home Office, Research, Development and Statistics Directorate | location=London | year=2001 | isbn=978-1-84082-612-8}} In local councils, construction or expansion permits for Hindu temples and community centers have been turned down for years, while Muslim mosques and Christian churches have been approved by the same councils and built.{{cite book|last1=Paul Weller et al. (2015)|title=Religion or Belief, Discrimination and Equality: Britain in Global Contexts|date=21 May 2015|publisher= Bloomsbury Academic|isbn=978-1474237512|pages=178–180}} The discrimination suffered by Hindu communities from the local council officials in Britain has been described by Paul Weller as follows,

{{Cquote|Neighbourhood traffic and parking issues continued to be reported as a problem. For example, a leader of the Hindu community told us that his temple was not given permission or space for worshippers to park outside the temple during festivals – which occurred only a few times a year. By contrast, he drew attention to parking restrictions have been lifted every Friday for the local mosque and identified this as unfair. A Hindu woman in another field research location, described problems with securing planning permission to build an extension and car park for her local temple. She contrasted this with the experience of Muslims who, according to her, had been allowed to build a mosque on "each and every road".|Paul Weller et al. (2015), Religion or Belief, Discrimination and Equality: Britain in Global Contexts, University of Derby.{{cite book |last1=Weller |first1=Paul |author2=Kingsley Purdam; Nazila Ghanea-Hercock; Sariya Contractor |year=2015 |title=Religion or Belief, Discrimination and Equality: Britain in Global Contexts |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1474237512|page=161}}

}}

Nearly 50% of Hindu children, both boys and girls, in British schools have reported to being victims of bullying for being Hindu and their religious heritage.{{cite book | last=Gelfand| first=Michele | author-link=Michele J. Gelfand | title=Handbook of Advances in Culture and Psychology, Volume 5 | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2015 | isbn=978-0-19-021897-3 | page=175|display-authors=etal}}E Nesbitt (1993), Gender and religious tradition: The role learning of British Hindu children, Gender and Education, 5(1): 81-91 However, Claire Monks et al. note that children of various races and religions report being victims of bullying in British schools as well.{{cite journal | last=Monks| first=Claire P. | title=Peer victimization in multicultural schools in Spain and England | journal=European Journal of Developmental Psychology | volume=5 | issue=4 | year=2008 | pages=507–535 |display-authors=etal | doi=10.1080/17405620701307316| s2cid=145614268 }}

The Hindu community in the United Kingdom is not unique in suffering discrimination and stereotyping. The similarly small Jewish community of the United Kingdom, and in recent years the much larger Muslim community of the United Kingdom, has also expressed similar concerns. New legislation and institutions to understand and respond to religious discrimination are being debated by British politicians.

Private golfing, country clubs and other social clubs in Britain have routinely discriminated against and denied entry to Hindus – in addition to Sikhs, Muslims, women, Africans and other minorities after asserting "freedom of association" principle,{{cite book | author=Lindblom | title=Non-governmental organisations in international law | publisher=Cambridge University Press | location=Cambridge New York | year=2005 | isbn=978-0-521-85088-9 | pages=169–183}} and parts of EU-wide law to limit this practice were adopted in the United Kingdom in 1998.{{cite book | last=Thane | first=Pat | author-link = Pat Thane |title=Unequal Britain equalities in Britain since 1945 | publisher=Continuum | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-84706-298-7 | pages=58–68}}{{cite book | last=Jacobsen | first=Knut | title=South Asians in the diaspora histories and religious traditions | publisher=Brill | location=Leiden Boston | year=2004 | isbn=978-90-04-12488-2}} In some instances of Islamist terrorism, such as after the 7 July 2005 London bombings, Hindus along with Sikhs of the United Kingdom became more targeted and vulnerable for backlash than Muslims.Paul Iganski (2008), Hate crime and the city, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|9781861349408}}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060316212629/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050909/asp/nation/story_5216557.asp 7/7 backlash against Hindus and Sikhs]}}, The Telegraph; Quote - "There have been 932 hate crimes against Indians, predominantly Hindus and Sikhs, compared with around 600 such instances against Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims".

In October 2018, it was reported that Conservative Party (UK) London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey had written a pamphlet, entitled No Man’s Land, for the Centre for Policy Studies. In it, Bailey argued that accommodating Hindus "[robs] Britain of its community" and is turning the country into a "crime riddled cess pool". He also claimed that South Asians "bring their culture, their country and any problems they might have, with them" and that this was not a problem within the black community "because we’ve shared a religion and in many cases a language".{{Cite web|date=2018-10-04|title=Tory London mayoral candidate claimed celebrating Hindu and Muslim festivals has turned Britain into 'cesspool of crime'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservative-london-candidate-mayor-shaun-bailey-hindu-muslim-festival-crime-a8566341.html|access-date=2021-06-06|website=The Independent|language=en|archive-date=2021-07-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725095519/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservative-london-candidate-mayor-shaun-bailey-hindu-muslim-festival-crime-a8566341.html|url-status=live}} In the pamphlet, Bailey had confused the Hindu religion and the Hindi language: "You don’t know what to do. You bring your children to school and they learn far more about Diwali than Christmas. I speak to the people who are from Brent and they’ve been having Hindi (sic) days off."{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/anti-hindu-muslim-views-return-to-haunt-london-mayor-candidate-shaun-bailey/story-woCY6o4owDF4Yp9lnOxNBM.html|title=Anti-Hindu, Muslim views return to haunt London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey|last=Sonwalkar|first=Prasun|date=4 October 2018|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617011025/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/anti-hindu-muslim-views-return-to-haunt-london-mayor-candidate-shaun-bailey/story-woCY6o4owDF4Yp9lnOxNBM.html|url-status=live}} The Conservative Party Deputy Chairman, James Cleverly, defended Bailey and insisted he was misunderstood, and that he was implying black boys were drifting into crime as a result of learning more about Hinduism rather than "their own Christian culture".{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/04/tory-concerns-shaun-bailey-remarks-london-mayoral-race |title=Tory deputy chairman admits concerns about Shaun Bailey remarks |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=4 October 2018 |website=The Guardian |language=en |access-date=4 October 2018 |archive-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004185516/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/04/tory-concerns-shaun-bailey-remarks-london-mayoral-race |url-status=live }} However, the anti-racism Hope Not Hate campaign group called Bailey's comments "grotesque".{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45734837|title=Tory London mayor candidate's comments 'Islamophobic'|date=4 October 2018|website=BBC News|language=en|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108110402/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45734837|url-status=live}} The comments were condemned by the Hindu Council of the United Kingdom who expressed "disappointment at the misrepresentation of our faith" by Bailey.{{Cite web|title=Hindus in the UK|url=https://www.facebook.com/HindusinUK/posts/2272356569472453 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/788110531230405/2272356569472453 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2021-06-06|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}{{cbignore}}

In April 2023 the Henry Jackson Society did an investigation on Anti-Hindu hate in schools, according to the report 51% of parents of Hindu pupils state that their child had experienced anti-Hindu hate in schools while less than 1% of schools surveyed reported any anti-Hindu related incidents in the last five years. They also found that many Muslim students have bullied their Hindu classmates on religious grounds, The Telegraph reported quoting the study, claimed that Muslim pupils called for Hindus to convert or face "threats of hell for disbelievers" using terms such as "kaffir". In one example a child "was harassed and told that if they convert to Islam, their life will become so much easier" and another was told: "You aren't going to survive very long... If you want to go to paradise, you'll have to come to Islam... Hindus are the herbivores at the bottom of the food chain, we will eat you up." Another parent said children were told to watch videos of an Islamic preacher and to "convert because Hinduism makes no sense", The Telegraph reported. According to the think tank, religious education was "fostering discrimination" against Hindus with inappropriate references to the Indian caste system and misconceptions over the worship of deities which students felt made "a mockery of them".https://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HJS-Anti-Hindu-Hate-in-Schools-Briefing-final.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428130145/https://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HJS-Anti-Hindu-Hate-in-Schools-Briefing-final.pdf |date=2023-04-28 }} {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www.ibtimes.sg/muslim-students-harass-hindu-classmates-uk-forces-them-convert-islam-report-69911 | title=Muslim Students Harass Hindu Classmates in UK; Force Them to Convert to Islam: Report | date=19 April 2023 | access-date=29 April 2023 | archive-date=29 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429182657/https://www.ibtimes.sg/muslim-students-harass-hindu-classmates-uk-forces-them-convert-islam-report-69911 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/muslim-pupils-tell-hindu-classmates-in-uk-to-convert-report/articleshow/99612666.cms?from=mdr | title=Muslim pupils tell Hindu classmates in UK to convert: Report | newspaper=The Economic Times | date=19 April 2023 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/18/muslim-pupils-hindu-convert-islam-bullying/ | title=Muslim pupils tell Hindu classmates to convert to Islam to avoid bullying | newspaper=The Telegraph | date=18 April 2023 | last1=Johnston | first1=Neil | access-date=29 April 2023 | archive-date=29 April 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230429182656/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/18/muslim-pupils-hindu-convert-islam-bullying/ | url-status=live }}

{{Portal|Hinduism|United Kingdom}}

{{Col div|colwidth=20em}}

• Encyclopedia of Hinduism
• Hindu Council UK
• Hinduism by country
• Hinduism in England
• Hinduism in Gibraltar
• Hinduism in Northern Ireland
• Hinduism in Scotland
• Hinduism in the British Virgin Islands
• Hinduism in the Republic of Ireland
• Hinduism in the West Indies
• Hinduism in the West
• Hinduism in Wales
• List of Hindu temples in the United Kingdom
• Persecution of Hindus
• Religion in the United Kingdom
• Sanskara (rite of passage)
• Sanskrit in the West
• Vedanga
• Vivaha

{{Colend}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150715024122/http://www2.derby.ac.uk/multifaith-new/hinduism Hinduism – Hindu Origins and Key Organisations in the UK]}}—University of Derby
• [https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/factsheets/hinduism-in-the-uk/ Factsheet: Hinduism in the UK]—Religion Media Centre

{{Hinduism in Europe}}

{{Hindu temples in the United Kingdom}}

Category:Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom