Hinduism in Balochistan

Overview of Hinduism in Balochistan, Pakistan

Hindus of Balochistan

Hawan at Shri Hinglaj Mata temple.

Total population
59,107  (2023)
0.41% of total Balochistan population
Scriptures
Bhagavad Gita, and Vedas
Languages
Sanskrit (sacred)
Sindhi,[1] Balochi (majority)
Urdu and other languages (minority)

Hinduism is a minority religion in Balochistan followed by 0.41% of the population of the province. It is the largest minority religion in Balochistan. The Balochistan is home to the shrine of Shri Hinglaj Mata temple, which is one of the most sacred Hindu temples.[2][3] The annual Hinglaj Yatra to the temple is the largest Hindu pilgrimage in Pakistan.[4]

## History

[edit]

### Ancient era

[edit]

The earliest people in Balochistan were the Brahui people, a Dravidian speaking people closely related to the Dravidian speaking people of South India. The Hindu Sewa Dynasty ruled much of region of Balochistan up until the 7th century AD. The Sibi division which was carved out of the Quetta division still derives its name from Rani Sewi, the queen of the Hindu Sewa dynasty.[5] In 634 CE, the Hindu Brahman dynasty of Sindh controlled parts of Balochistan.[6]

### Colonial era

[edit]

During the colonial era, detailed decadal census reports covered Hinduism in the Baluchistan Agency of British India. The 1911 census counted a total of 38,326 Hindus in the province, forming approximately 4.6 percent of the total population. Of the total, 14,985 Hindus (39 percent) belonged to indigenous tribes of the Balochistan region, and 22,617 Hindus (59 percent) were migrants from other regions of the country.[7]: 57

Being a religious minority in the region for centuries, colonial officials found that indigenous Baloch Hindus developed a form of religious syncretism that incorporated many aspects of Islam into their cultures and traditions, greatly differing from the forms of orthodox Hinduism practiced in other parts of the subcontinent. Furthermore, caste and family ancestry was often difficult to ascertain, as Hindus indigenous to the Balochistan region mainly solely identified as a member of their respective Baloch tribe, typically unknowing of their caste background.

> "Proverbially elastic though the term is, Hinduism is stretched almost to breaking point in Baluchistan. It is not merely that the Hinduism of the domiciled Hindu families widely different from the Hinduism they see practised among the alien immigrants; there is precious little in their religion that would pass for Hinduism in more enlightened parts of India. It almost looks as if the singular freedom from persecution which the old Hindu families have always enjoyed at the hands of their Musalman over-lords had given Islam greater scope to impart its subtle influence to their inward beliefs and outward practices. Knowing no sacred books but the Sikh scriptures, and with priests (Brahmans though they may be) as ignorant of the Shastras as themselves, these benighted Hindus have allowed nearly all their rites and ceremonies to become coloured with an Islamic tinge. They reverently resort to Muhammadan shrines; they invoke Muhammadan saints; in times of trouble they are glad of the help of charm mongering mullahs. It is not uncommon to find them observing Muhammadan fasts, or participating in the Muharram and other Muhammadan festivals." [7]: 57–58
> "The Hindus of Kalat town — undoubtedly among the oldest in the community — claim to be offshoots of the mysterious Sewa dynasty that ruled in Kalat centuries before the Brahui Confederacy took shape. But though the Bhatia of Las Bela punctiliously refer their advent to the year 708 A.D., and the Hindus of Lahri tell in all good faith of their journeyings from Aleppo with Chakar the Rind, the early history of these old Hindu families is hopelessly befogged. Everything, however, seems to point to the western Panjab and Sind as the countries from which most of them came, though isolated families in Nushki may have immigrated by way of Afghanistan, and a few others may have wandered in from the far corners of India. Originally they may have been as diverse as the villages from which they came and the dates of their coming. Today the old Hindu families form a more or less homogeneous community. In particular customs no doubt they vary considerably; but common environment has set its common mark on them all. And it is in the effect of an alien environment on Hindus and Hindu caste that the main interest in these old trading families of Baluchistan is centred." [7]: 175
> "Except in Quetta, where the Hindu community has become so overgrown that conditions are abnormal, neither caste nor sub-caste enters into their composition: there is nothing incongruous or unusual in a Panchayat subscribing impartially to a Sikh Dharamsala and to the worship of a Devi or of Darya Pir; or in a Panchayat (like that of Chuharkot in Barkhan) which is composed almost wholly of Aroras having a Brahman as its president. In other words, a Panchayat is a Panchayat not of caste-members but of the whole body of Hindus in a village community. It is indeed almost always sheer waste of time to question a member of one of these old Hindu families regarding his caste. Brahman he knows and Musalman he knows; and it is enough for him that he is neither the one nor the other, but a Hindu pure and simple. Most of the families are undoubtedly Arora; some few are very possibly Khatri; the Bhatia of Las Bela are probably Rajput. But these are distinctions too nice for a local Hindu; it is more than possible that he may never have heard the terms before. Nevertheless, though his mind may be a blank as to the name of his caste, he can sometimes give the name of his sub-caste—possibly a hoary name like Ahuja, possibly a newly coined name like Ramzai or Panjazai, modelled on the name of a tribal section. But it is merely a matter of names after all. The Ramzai and the Panjazai and the Ahuja may have each some cherished peculiarities of their own. But such peculiarities strike no discord between them. The old Hindu families are a brotherhood of equals; among themselves they know no distinctions valid enough to influence the intercourse of everyday life." [7]: 176

> — Excerpts from the Census of India, 1911 AD

The 1921 census counted a total of 51,348 Hindus in Balochistan, forming approximately 6.4 percent of the total population. Hindus belonging to the indigenous tribes of the Balochistan region numbered 17,479 persons and formed 34 percent of the total Hindu population, while migrants from other regions of the country numbered 33,869 persons or 66 percent of the total Hindu population.

The 1931 census counted a total of 53,681 Hindus in Balochistan, forming roughly 6.2 percent of the total population. Hindus associated with the indigenous tribes of the Balochistan region numbered 16,905 persons and formed nearly 31.5 percent of the total Hindu population. Conversely, migrants from other regions of the country numbered 36,776 persons and made up approximately 68.5 percent of the total Hindu population.[8]: 148

After the partition of British India and the ensuing creation of Pakistan, much of the Hindus migrated to India,[9] particularly the Bhagnaris community.[10][11]

## Demographics

[edit]

According to the 1998 Census, Balochistan had approximately 39,000 Hindus (including the Scheduled Castes) constituting 0.59% of the population;[12][13] the 2017 Census revealed that despite the population growing to 49,133, the percentage decreased to 0.4%,[14][15] while as per the 2023 Census, the percentage increased slightly to 0.41%, with a population of 59,107 Hindus in Balochistan.[16] However, Pakistan Hindu Council estimates that there are 117,345 Hindus in Balochistan.[17]

Census
Year  | Hinduism  in Baluchistan Agency and Balochistan Province (1901–2023)

|

Hindu Population | Hindu Percentage  | Total Population
1901[18] | 38,158  | 4.71%  | 810,746
1911[19] | 38,326  | 4.59%  | 834,703
1921[20] | 51,348  | 6.42%  | 799,625
1931[8] | 53,681  | 6.18%  | 868,617
1941[21] | 54,394  | 6.34%  | 857,835
1951[22][23][24] | 13,087  | 1.13%  | 1,154,167
1961[25][26] | 9,836  | 0.85%  | 1,161,011
1972[27] | 18,223  | 0.75%  | 2,428,678
1981[28] | 19,598  | 0.45%  | 4,332,376
1998[12][13] | 39,146  | 0.6%  | 6,565,885
2017[14][15] | 49,133  | 0.4%  | 12,344,408
2023[16] | 59,107  | 0.41%  | 14,562,011

### Colonial era

[edit]

At the district level in Baluchistan Agency, as per the 1941 census, the largest Hindu concentrations existed in Quetta–Pishin District (Hindus formed 18.32 percent of the total population and numbered 28,629 persons), Bolan District (15.81 percent or 950 persons), and Zhob District (6.97 percent or 4,286 persons).[21]

Hindus in the Districts & Princely states of Baluchistan Agency (1901–1941)  District or Princely State | 1901[18] | 1911[7][19] | 1921[20] | 1931[8] | 1941[21]

|
|
|
|
|

Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Kalat State | 13,780  | 3.38%  | 10,102  | 2.81%  | 11,205  | 3.41%  | 10,806  | 3.16%  | 7,971  | 3.15%
Quetta–Pishin District  | 11,752  | 10.3%  | 13,746  | 10.77%  | 22,300  | 16.27%  | 26,718  | 18.11%  | 28,629  | 18.32%
Thal–Chotiali District/
Sibi District[a] | 6,560  | 5.86%  | 7,420  | 6.33%  | 6,449  | 5.4%  | 5,893  | 4.12%  | 6,425  | 3.9%
Zhob District | 3,086  | 2.98%  | 1,391  | 1.98%  | 3,398  | 6%  | 2,839  | 4.9%  | 4,286  | 6.97%
Las Bela State | 2,069  | 3.69%  | 1,736  | 2.84%  | 1,465  | 2.89%  | 1,443  | 2.29%  | 1,701  | 2.46%
Bolan District | 582  | 30.06%  | 540  | 25.76%  | 969  | 26.78%  | 1,165  | 24.85%  | 950  | 15.81%
Chaghai District | 329  | 2.1%  | 385  | 2.36%  | 1,931  | 9.05%  | 1,313  | 5.42%  | 1,204  | 4.02%
Loralai District | —  | —  | 3,006  | 3.72%  | 3,631  | 4.4%  | 3,504  | 4.07%  | 3,129  | 3.74%
Kharan State | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | —  | 99  | 0.29%
Total Hindus (Princely States)  | 15,849  | 3.42%  | 11,838  | 2.82%  | 12,670  | 3.34%  | 12,249  | 3.02%  | 9,771  | 2.74%
Total Hindus (Districts)  | 22,309  | 6.43%  | 26,488  | 6.39%  | 38,678  | 9.19%  | 41,432  | 8.94%  | 44,623  | 8.9%
Total Hindus (Baluchistan Agency)  | 38,158  | 4.71%  | 38,326  | 4.59%  | 51,348  | 6.42%  | 53,681  | 6.18%  | 54,394  | 6.34%
Total Population (Districts)  | 347,165  | 42.82%  | 414,412  | 49.65%  | 420,648  | 52.61%  | 463,508  | 53.36%  | 501,631  | 58.48%
Total Population (Princely States)  | 463,581  | 57.18%  | 420,291  | 50.35%  | 378,977  | 47.39%  | 405,109  | 46.64%  | 356,204  | 41.52%
Total Population (Baluchistan Agency)  | 810,746  | 100%  | 834,703  | 100%  | 799,625  | 100%  | 868,617  | 100%  | 857,835  | 100%

### Modern era

[edit]

Hindus in the administrative divisions in Balochistan (1951–2023)  District | 1951[22][23][24] | 2017[14][15] | 2023[14]

|
|
|

Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | %
Kalat State/
Kalat District | 7,666  | 2.71%  | 1,263  | 0.31%  | 1,067  | 0.39%
Sibi District | 2,717  | 1.31%  | 4,330  | 2.41%  | 4,252  | 1.9%
Lasbela State/
Lasbela District | 1,030  | 1.36%  | 9,096  | 1.58%  | 16,480  | 2.42%
Quetta–Pishin District/
Quetta District | 945  | 0.45%  | 6,362  | 0.28%  | 5,775  | 0.25%
Chagai District | 323  | 0.92%  | 977  | 0.43%  | 896  | 0.33%
Loralai District | 161  | 0.19%  | 627  | 0.16%  | 435  | 0.16%
Kharan State/
Kharan District | 114  | 0.21%  | 470  | 0.29%  | 1,912  | 0.73%
Zhob District | 73  | 0.11%  | 191  | 0.06%  | 232  | 0.07%
Makran State | 58  | 0.04%  | —  | —  | —  | —
Jafarabad District | —  | —  | 6,872  | 1.34%  | 7,379  | 1.24%
Khuzdar District | —  | —  | 3,642  | 0.46%  | 4,950  | 0.5%
Kachhi District | —  | —  | 3,229  | 1.04%  | 3,956  | 0.89%
Nasirabad District | —  | —  | 3,213  | 1.6%  | 2,666  | 0.47%
Sohbatpur District | —  | —  | 1,355  | 0.68%  | 1,804  | 0.75%
Dera Bugti District | —  | —  | 1,346  | 0.43%  | 1,099  | 0.31%
Kech District | —  | —  | 1,293  | 0.14%  | 406  | 0.04%
Jhal Magsi District | —  | —  | 1,196  | 0.8%  | 1,252  | 0.62%
Nushki District | —  | —  | 1,001  | 0.56%  | 1,427  | 0.69%
Gwadar District | —  | —  | 657  | 0.25%  | 833  | 0.28%
Mastung District | —  | —  | 525  | 0.2%  | 914  | 0.29%
Killa Abdullah District | —  | —  | 393  | 0.05%  | 34  | 0.01%
Harnai District | —  | —  | 314  | 0.32%  | 421  | 0.33%
Panjgur District | —  | —  | 227  | 0.07%  | 302  | 0.06%
Ziarat District | —  | —  | 190  | 0.12%  | 154  | 0.08%
Awaran District | —  | —  | 94  | 0.08%  | 19  | 0.01%
Kohlu District | —  | —  | 62  | 0.03%  | 38  | 0.01%
Barkhan District | —  | —  | 57  | 0.03%  | 4  | 0%
Washuk District | —  | —  | 49  | 0.03%  | 26  | 0.01%
Killa Saifullah District | —  | —  | 36  | 0.01%  | 16  | 0%
Musakhel District | —  | —  | 29  | 0.02%  | 7  | 0%
Sherani District | —  | —  | 19  | 0.01%  | 15  | 0.01%
Pishin District | —  | —  | 18  | 0%  | 61  | 0.01%
Chaman District | —  | —  | —  | —  | 213  | 0.05%
Duki District | —  | —  | —  | —  | 39  | 0.02%
Surab District | —  | —  | —  | —  | 23  | 0.01%
Total Hindus  | 13,087  | 1.13%  | 49,133  | 0.4%  | 59,107  | 0.41%
Total responses  | 1,154,167  | 98.31%  | 12,335,129  | 100%  | 14,562,011  | 97.77%
Total population  | 1,174,036  | 100%  | 12,335,129  | 100%  | 14,894,402  | 100%

## Community life

[edit]

Only a minority of Baloch people are Hindus.[29] There are Hindu Balochs in the Bugti, Marri, Rind, Bezenjo, Zehri, Mengal and other Baloch tribes.[30]

Compared to the rest of the country, the Hindus in Balochistan province are relatively more secure and face less religious persecution. The tribal chiefs in Balochistan, particularly the Jams of Lasbela and Bugti of Dera Bugti, consider non-Muslims including Hindus as members of their own extended family and allows religious freedom. They have never forced Hindus to convert. In Balochistan Hindu places of worship are proportionate to their population. For example, between Uthal and Bela jurisdiction in Lasbela District, there are 18 temples for 5,000 Hindus living in the area, which is an indicator of religious freedom.[31] However, in Khuzdar District and Kalat District, Hindus face discrimination.[32]

Hindu marriages in Balochistan are registered under the Hindu marriage act of 2017.[33][34] In Balochistan provincial assembly, there are three seats reserved for minorities. Hindus usually get elected on 1 or 2 seats.[35][36]

## Temples

[edit]

* Hawan at Hinglaj Mata mandir

* Baba Chandragup is an important stop during Hinglaj Yatra

* Kalat Kali Temple in Kalat, Pakistan.

* Sidh Pani Nath Ji Temple in Quetta.

## See also

[edit]

* Hinduism in Pakistan
* Punjabi Hindus
* Hinduism in Punjab, Pakistan
* Hinduism in Sindh Province
* Hinduism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
* Shri Krishna Mandir, Gwadar

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Struggling For Hope: The Unseen Misery Of Quetta's Shanti Nagar". Voicepk.net. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
2. ^ Schaflechner, Jürgen (2018). Hinglaj Devi : identity, change, and solidification at a Hindu temple in Pakistan. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 66. ISBN 9780190850555. OCLC 1008771979. "The worship of the Hinglaj Mata in Balochistan has been one of the most important tourist and religious pilgrimage for the Hindus of Pakistan and the trends has place in history from Medieval India."
3. ^ Being in the World Productions (2011), OnBecoming Gods, Pakistan, event occurs at 44 min, retrieved 2018-08-07`{{citation}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
4. ^ "In a Muslim-majority country, a Hindu goddess lives on". Culture & History. 10 January 2019. Archived from the original on January 10, 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
5. ^ The tribal Baluchistan by Syed Abdul Quddus page 49
6. ^ Skutsch, Carl, ed. (2005). Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities. New York: Routledge. p. 178\. ISBN 1-57958-468-3.
7. ^ a b c d e "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1911 VOLUME IV BALUCHISTAN". Retrieved 22 January 2023.
8. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1931). "Census of India 1931. Vol. 4, Baluchistan. Pts. 1 & 2, Report [and] Imperial and provincial tables". p. 149\. JSTOR saoa.crl.25797115. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
9. ^ Banerjee-Dube, Ishita; Dube, Saurabh (2009). Ancient to modern: religion, power, and community in India. New Delhi; Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-569662-2. OCLC 302183130.
10. ^ Roshni Nair (3 December 2016). "Mumbai's filmi daredevils with a cross-border history". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
11. ^ Sadaf Modak (7 November 2016). "A piece of Balochistan in Mumbai since Partition — 150 families & Khatti Dal". Retrieved 24 May 2021.
12. ^ a b "Population Distribution by Religion, 1998 Census" (PDF). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
13. ^ a b "Population Distribution by Religion, 1998 Census" (PDF). Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
14. ^ a b c d "Final Results of Census-2017 Table-9 Population by sex, religion and rural/urban". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
15. ^ a b c "SALIENT FEATURES OF FINAL RESULTS CENSUS-2017" (PDF). Retrieved 24 May 2021.
16. ^ a b "7th Population and Housing Census - Detailed Results Table-9 Population by sex, religion and rural/urban". Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
17. ^ "Hindu Population (PK) – Pakistan Hindu Council". Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
18. ^ a b India Census Commissioner (1901). "Census of India 1901. Vol. 5A, Baluchistan. Pt. 2, Imperial tables". p. 5\. JSTOR saoa.crl.25352844. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
19. ^ a b India Census Commissioner (1911). "Census of India 1911. Vol. 4, Baluchistan : pt. 1, Report; pt. 2, Tables". pp. 9–13\. JSTOR saoa.crl.25393764. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
20. ^ a b India Census Commissioner (1921). "Census of India 1921. Vol. 4, Baluchistan : part I, Report; part II, Tables". pp. 47–52\. JSTOR saoa.crl.25394124. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
21. ^ a b c India Census Commissioner (1942). "Census of India, 1941. Vol. 14, Baluchistan". pp. 13–18\. JSTOR saoa.crl.28215993. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
22. ^ a b "Baluchistan, Report & Tables, Vol-2, Pakistan - Census 1951". Retrieved 24 November 2024.
23. ^ a b "CENSUS OF PAKISTAN, 1951 POPULATION ACCORDING TO RELIGION (TABLE 6)" (PDF). 1951. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2023.
24. ^ a b "Census of Pakistan, 1951 Population According to Religion Table 6". Census Digital Library. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
25. ^ "Population, Vol-3, Pakistan - Census 1961 TABLE 5-POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS, 1951 AND 1961". Census Digital Library. p. 224. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
26. ^ "Population, Vol-3, Pakistan - Census 1961 TABLE 7-POPULATION BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS AND SEX". Census Digital Library. p. 280. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
27. ^ Population Census Organization Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan Islamabad. "Statistical Report of Baluchistan 1972". p. 21. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
28. ^ Population Census Organisation Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. "1981 Census Report of Baluchistan Province". p. 33. Retrieved 11 November 2024.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
29. ^ Kamal Siddiqi (30 July 2009). "Hingol Temple Symbolises Baloch Secularism". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
30. ^ "Over 100 Hindu Families In Pak Want To Migrate To India". Hindustan Times. 3 January 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
31. ^ Tarar, Akhlaq Ullah (31 March 2019), "Forced conversions", Dawn, retrieved 24 May 2021
32. ^ Javaid, Maham (18 August 2016), "State of fear", Herald (Pakistan), retrieved 24 May 2021
33. ^ "Pakistan Senate passes landmark Hindu marriage bill". The Hindu. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
34. ^ Kalbe Ali (27 September 2016). "NA finally passes Hindu marriage bill". Dawn. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
35. ^ Aqeel, Asif (1 July 2018), "Problems with the electoral representation of non-Muslims", Herald (Pakistan), retrieved 21 May 2021
36. ^ "General Elections 2018 - Reserved Seats Returned Candidates Notifications - National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies". Election Commission of Pakistan. Retrieved 24 May 2021.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Mohammad, Sahibzada Baz; Baloch, Fehmida. January–June, 2016. "HINDUISM IN BALOCHISTAN: LITERARY AND CULTURAL IMPACTS OF PASHTOONS AND BALOCHS ON HINDUS OF BALOCHISTAN". In TAKATOO, Volume 8, Issue 5. Pages 38–46. [1]

## External links

[edit]

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1. ^ 1903: Thal-Chotiali District abolished and bifurcated with the majority added to the administered area of Sibi District and a smaller portion added to the newly created Loralai District.

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