Hinduism in Italy
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
223,000 (2023)  (0.4%) of total population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Rome, Milan, Venice | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism | |
| Languages | |
| Sacred Sanskrit Majority Hindi, English, Tamil and other Indian diaspora languages, some also speak Italian |
| Hinduism by country |
|---|
  |
| Full list |
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.[1] In 2012, there were about 90,000 Hindus in Italy.[2] 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.
History
[edit]Early history
[edit]Hindu spiritual leaders and teachers visited Italy in the early 20th century. Paramahansa Yogananda first visited Italy in 1935 before settling in the United States and establishing the Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF). After the publication of the Italian edition of the Autobiography of a Yogi was published in 1951, Italian members of the SRF held meditation groups and other public events. Yogananda's belief in how his teachings aligned with Christianity allowed the SRF to grow. In 1960, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi visited Italy and introduced Transcendental Meditation. Other groups established a presence in the following decades: Shri Ram Chandra Mission (1972), International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) (1973), Sathya Sai Baba Organisation (1977), and Vishwa Nirmala Dharma Movement (1982). Beginning with the 1980s, academics began studying the Hindu diaspora and how Hindu beliefs and practices were received within Italy and Europe.[3]: 1108–1114
Official recognition as a religion
[edit]In 2012, the Italian Parliament recognised Hinduism and Buddhism as official religions, the first ever designation for religions other than Judaism or Christianity.[4]: 695 [3]: 1116–1117 [5] As declared in the law, Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is recognized Hindu religious holiday under the agreement.[6][4]: 695
Demographics
[edit]Although there are no exact figures for the number of Hindus in Italy, estimates rely on immigration from countries with large Hindu communities, like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In 2017, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka ranked sixth, eighth, and twelfth, respectively, in terms of citizens requesting visas.[3]: 1118–1119 During the Sri Lankan civil war, migrants sought asylum in Italy.[7]: 242 In a 2019 report, Eurispes (Institute of Political, Economic, and Social Studies) estimated 180,000 Hindus lived in Italy (150,000 of South Asian origin; 30,000 of Italian origin).[8]: 1119 In 2020, Jacobsen estimated 200,000 Hindus of South Asian origin lived in Italy.[9]: 210
| Year | Population | Percent of Total Population | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 90,000 | 0.1% | N/A |
| 2015 | 120,000 | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| 2021 | 180,000 | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| 2023 | 223,000 | 0.4% | 0.1% |
Hindu organisations
[edit]Italian Hindu Union (UII)
[edit]The Italian Hindu Union (Italian: Unione Induista Italiana, UII) was established in 1996 by Swami Yogananda Giri of the Gitananda Ashram along with the Indian Embassy and scholars to represent Hindus in Italy.[4]: 695 [3]: 1116–1117 [10][11] The UII signed an agreement with the Italian government in 2007, in accordance with Italian Constitution Article 8, which regulates the relations with religious minorities.[12][13] This designation allows the IHU to receive funding like other federally recognized religious minorities, federal accreditation of Hindu training courses for teachers in public schools, and the presence of Hindu ministers in public hospitals.[3]: 1117
The UII consists of 16 communities and four centres, including the Gitananda Ashram, which approximates 5000 individuals (about half Italian) and 50,000 Hindus from Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. However, other groups which established themselves beginning in the 1950s had received legal recognition prior to the UII's conception, and the majority of Hindus living in Italy are unaffiliated with the UII. [3]: 1109, 1116–1119
Self-Realisation Fellowship (SRF)
[edit]Paramahansa Yogananda first visited Rome and Asisi in 1935. After the publication of Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi in 1951, the SRF began holding public gatherings, like meditation groups. Yogananda believed that his teachings overlapped with Christianity, which allowed his followers to engage in interfaith dialogue and for the SRF to grow in Italy. As of 2020, the SRF remains unaffiliated with the UII and includes 10,000 Italian members across three centres, twelve groups, and 53 meditation circles.[3]: 1108–1109
Transcendental Meditation (TM)
[edit]Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced TM to Italy in 1960. As of 2020, there are 54 TM centres in Italy. David Lynch promoted TM on Italian television. Lynch's foundation also expressed interest in creating TM training courses in schools.[3]: 1109–1110
Shri Ram Chandra Mission
[edit]Established in Italy in 1972 by followers of Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, the group teaches yogic principles that align with European lifestyle without emphasising specific attire or changing names. The group was legally constituted in 1988. As of 2020, the organisation has 28 centres and 300-400 Italian members.[3]: 1110
Matha Gitananda Ashram
[edit]The Hindu monastery Matha Gitananda Ashram is located atop a hill 520m high in Località Pellegrino, Altare, in the inland of Savona. The ashram was established in 1984 by Swami Yogananda Giri (born Paolo Valle) and serves as the national headquarters of the UII.[14][3]: 1116–1117 The ashram follows Saiva Siddhanta and Srividya traditions.[4]: 695
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
[edit]International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) arrived in Italy in 1973, opening its first center in Rome. Prabhupada visited Rome in 1974 and gave a public lecture. ISKCON later established centres, rural communities and Govinda vegetarian restaurants in various parts of Italy. In 1998, the Italian government recognized ISKCON as an ente morale ("moral institution").[3]: 1110–1111
Sathya Sai Baba Organisation
[edit]The organisation's first centre in Italy was established by an Italian engineer in 1972. As of 2020, the organisation encompasses 26 national centres with over 2000 active members. The Italian branch also communicates its teachings on Radio Sai Italia and runs its own publishing house.[3]: 1112
Mirapuri Community
[edit]Established on Lake Orta in Piedmont in 1978 by German followers of Sri Aurobindo led by Michel Montecrossa, the Mirapuri community focuses on the practice of integral yoga. The community oversees educational projects with children and runs the Mirapuri International Research Academy which hosts lectures on meditation and New Age spirituality.[15]: 1112
See also
[edit]
- Eight per thousand, a taxation scheme supporting organised religion
- Relations
- Indian religions in Italy
References
[edit]- ↑ "Il pluralismo religioso italiano nel contesto postmoderno | le Religioni in Italia".
- ↑ Table: Religious Composition by Country, in Numbers Pew Research Center (December 2012)
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Nencini, Andrea Maria; Squarcini, Federico (2020). "Hinduism in Italy: A Condensed History of a Meteorological Phenomenon". In Jacobsen, Knut A.; Sardella, Ferdinando (eds.). Handbook of Hinduism in Europe. Handbook of Oriental Studes. Section 2: South Asia. Vol. 35. Brill. pp. 1098–1140. doi:10.1163/9789004432284_045. ISBN 978-90-04-43228-4.
- 1 2 3 4 Sardella, Ferdinando (2020). "Hindu Umbrella Organisations in Europe". In Jacobsen, Knut A.; Sardella, Ferdinando (eds.). Handbook of Hinduism in Europe. Handbook of Oriental Studes. Section 2: South Asia. Vol. 35. Brill. pp. 687–709. doi:10.1163/9789004432284_045. ISBN 978-90-04-43228-4.
- ↑ "Italian Parliament Grants Official Recognition to Hinduism and Buddhism". Hinduism Today. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014.
- ↑ "About us". Unione Induista Italiana. Retrieved 25 September 2026.
- ↑ Trouillet, Pierre-Yves (2023-10-05). "A Global Hindu Tamil Diaspora? Worldwide Migration, Diversity, and Transnational Religion". In Jacobsen, Knut A. (ed.). Hindu Diasporas. The Oxford History of Hinduism (1 ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 237–268. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198867692.003.0011. ISBN 978-0-19-886769-2. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
- ↑ Jacobsen & Sardella 2020, p. 1108-1109.
- ↑ Jacobsen, Knut A. (2023-10-05). "Hindu Diasporas in Europe: Religious Plurality as the Foundation of Growth". In Jacobsen, Knut A. (ed.). Hindu Diasporas (1 ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 209–236. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198867692.003.0011. ISBN 978-0-19-886769-2. Retrieved 2026-09-23.
- ↑ "L'Unione Induista Italiana e i centri affiliati | Le Religioni in Italia". Cesnur.com. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
- ↑ Gnesotto, Gianromano; Marsico, Francesco; Nanni, Maria Paola; Pittau, Franco (2007). "Il panorama multireliogoso in Italia". Dossier Statistico Immigrazione 2007 (PDF) (in Italian). Centro Studi e Ricerche IDOS. pp. 192–201. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-11-29. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
- ↑ "Governo Italiano - Le intese con le confessioni religiose". Presidenza.governo.it. 2016-06-28. Archived from the original on 23 Feb 2026. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
- ↑ Norme per la regolazione dei rapporti tra lo Stato e l'Unione Induista Italiana, Sanatana Dharma Samgha, in attuazione dell'articolo 8, terzo comma, della Costituzione (Legge 246) (in Italian). 31 December 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
- ↑ "About us – matha". Matha Gitananda Ashram. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ Nencini, Andrea Maria; Squarcini, Federico (2020). "Hinduism in Italy: A Condensed History of a Meteorological Phenomenon". In Jacobsen, Knut A.; Sardella, Ferdinando (eds.). Handbook of Hinduism in Europe. Handbook of Oriental Studes. Section 2: South Asia. Vol. 35. Brill. pp. 1098–1140. doi:10.1163/9789004432284_045. ISBN 978-90-04-43228-4.
Sources
[edit]- Jacobsen, Knut A.; Sardella, Ferdinando, eds. (2020). Handbook of Hinduism in Europe. Handbook of oriental studies. Section two, South Asia. Vol. 35. Leiden ; Boston: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-43228-4.
External links
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