Hinduism in Belgium

There are about 7,000 people of Indian origin in Belgium.

A section of immigrants from Palanpur district in Gujarat entered the port city of Antwerp to work with the Jewish community in the diamond business, and eventually started their own.[5] The Antwerp Indians still form a very tightly knit group and actively celebrate Indian festivals.

Indian software companies like Aricent, HCL, TCS, Daffodil Software Ltd and Infosys have a presence in Belgium.

Some farm labourers and shop-hands, mainly immigrants from North India, have also entered Belgium illegally.[6]

It is estimated that around 8000 Hindu of Nepalese origin live in Belgium. Leuven, Antwerpen, Brussels and Brugge are the major cities where Nepali Hindus live. They organize cultural and religious activities on special occasions each year. The main rituals like Nwaran, Pasni, birthday, Bratabandha, marriage, and Griha prabhesh are performed at their homes. They also organize Devi Puja and Shiva Puja on Navarati and Shivaratri.

The Nepali community has not built a temple yet but they intend to establish it to preserve Hindu culture and tradition. Shreemad Bhagabat Mahayagya was organized to meet this target but it is still in process. Ram Hari Shasti has contributed his time and effort as a Hindu priest for the Nepalese and Hindu community in Belgium.

Bhaktivedanta College,the only Hindu Vaishnava university in Belgium

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is active in Belgium. There are about 1,500 Hare Krishnas in Belgium.[8] An ISKCON temple has been built in Septon-Durbuy and is known as Radhadesh. ISKCON centers have been established in Antwerp and Gent. In other towns, where no such center exists, "local get-together programs" are organized periodically at the homes of private individuals where worship of Krishna is conducted. This is generally organized on festive occasions like Janmashtami and Deepavali.

ISKCON has the following activities in Belgium:

• Centre-1: ISKCON Center, Antwerpen, Belgium
• Centre-2: Local Get-together Program, Ghent, Belgium
• Center-3: ISKCON Radhadesh temple, in the Septon neighbourhood of Durbuy. This is the only proper ISKCON temple in Belgium. It includes:
  • The main temple, a grand structure where daily worship is performed and festivals are celebrated
  • Bhaktivedanta Library Services (BLS), a substantial library and research facility
  • Bhaktivedanta College, a religious denomination educational campus, the only Hindu Vaishnava university in Belgium
  • Radhadesh Govinda, the local edition of ISKCON's Food for Life program

Kingdom of Ganesha

Two Balinese Temples exist in the Pairi Daiza botanical garden in Belgium.[9][10]

The 4-hectare (9.9-acre) Kingdom of Ganesha, which was opened in 2009, is the largest Indonesian garden in Europe, and reproduces the plant life and feel of the Indonesian archipelago , particularly Bali. Its collections include Pura Agung Shanti Buwana Balinese Hindu temple, East Nusa Tenggara and Toraja traditional houses and miniature replicas of Borobudur and Prambanan temples. In August 2009 the Indonesian government has sent a pair of Sumatran elephants to enliven the Indonesian Park. It is the first endangered animal breeding loan program that Indonesia ever had in Europe.[11]

According to the Ipsos survey, about 40% of the participants considers Hindus as real Belgians and about 35% stated that Hindus are not true Belgians.[12]

• Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium
• Hinduism in Austria
• Hinduism in Italy

• There are 5,000 Hindus, 3,000 Sikhs and 1,500 Hare Krishnas in Belgium
• The Hare Krishna Movement in Belgium
• Iskcon temple in Belgium
• Namaskar - Hindu Association of Brussels, Belgium
• Gujaratis families dominate 60 percent diamond trade in Belgium
• Brahmakumaris in Belgium
• Balinese Hindus in the Pairi Daiza Temple