Hinduism in West Bengal information

Hindus in West Bengal
Total population
Bengali Swastika symbol
c. 64.4 million (2011 Census) (70.5% of West Bengal's population)
Regions with significant populations
Majority in all districts except Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur and Malda.
Languages
Majority: Bengali Minority: Nepali and Hindi
Religion
Hinduism and others

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Hinduism is the largest religious tradition in the Indian state of West Bengal with approximately 70.53% of the population identifying themselves as Hindus (as of 2011).^[1] The Hindus in West Bengal mostly belong to the Shakta (the Kalikula tradition), minority to Vaishnavite and a small community belong to Shaivite and other denominations.^[2] The vast majority of Hindus in West Bengal are Bengali Hindus numbering around 55 million and comprising 60.2% of the state population of 91.35 million (2011)^[3]^[4] but a notable section of non-Bengali Hindus also exist, particularly among Marwaris, Biharis, Odias, Gurkhas, Sindhis, Gujaratis and various tribal communities such as Koch, Santals, Munda and particularly Adivadis numbering around 9.4 million comprising rest 10.3% of the state population.^[4]^[5]^[6] Hindus have decreased in west bengal due to conversion to Islam which National Commission for Backward Classess(NCBC) notices.^[7]

Hinduism had existed in the region of Bengal before the 16th century BC and by the 3rd century, Buddhism and Jainism were popular too.^[8] Gaur, the first sovereign Hindu kingdom in Bengal with its capital in Karnasubarna in modern-day Murshidabad district, was set up by Shashanka, a Shaivaite king who ruled approximately between 600 AD and 625 AD. The modern structure of Bengali Hindu society was developed during the rule of the Sena dynasty in the 12th century AD. West Bengal has been home to several famous religious teachers, including Sri Chaitanya, Sri Ramakrishna, Rammohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda.

^ Census, India (24 August 2022). "West Bengal Population". IndiaCensus.net.
^ McDermott, Rachel Fell (2005). "Bengali religions". In Lindsay Jones (ed.). Encyclopedia of Religion: 15 Volume Set. Vol. 2 (2nd ed.). Detroit, Mi: MacMillan Reference USA. pp. 824–832. ISBN 0-02-865735-7. p. 826.
^ Zbonkak, Trevor (14 December 2021). "How many Bengalis are there in West Bengal?". The Flat - Travel Q&A and Tips 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
^ ^a ^b Datta, Romita (13 November 2020). "The great Hindu vote trick". India Today. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
^ "Population of West Bengal-West Bengal Population 2021". India Guide- Festivals, Culture, City Guide, Weddings, Population, Indianonlinepages.com. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
^ "Opinion divided on most non-Bengali voters favouring BJP in West Bengal". National Herald: Live News Today,India News,Top Headlines,Political and World News. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
^ Datta, Romita (8 June 2023). "Hindus have converted to Islam on a large scale in West Bengal, says National Commission for Other Backward Classes chief". ANI:South Asia Leading Multimedia News Agency. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
^ Sen, Sukumar (1999). "Dharme" [The Religion]. Banga-Bhumika [An Introduction to the History of Bengal] (in Bengali) (1st ed.). Kolkata: Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi. pp. 104–05. ISBN 81-86908-97-8.

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