Hinduism in Belgium

Hinduism is a minority religion in Belgium.

Hinduism is spread to Belgium mainly by ISKCON and Brahma Kumaris.

Hinduism in Belgium

There are around 6,500 Hindus in Belgium which includes 1,500 Hare Krishnas and 5,000 other Hindus. [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71371.htm IRF2006]

Indian Community in Belgium

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

The average per capita income of Belgium is US$ 23,861. While the per capita income of the Indian community is not available, they are mainly to be found in the professional and more prosperous sections of society. Indians are employed in Software, the Diamond business and a few local industries in cities like Antwerp, Ghent, Brussels and Liege.

A section of immigrants from Palanpur district in Gujarat had entered the port city of Antwerp to work with the Jewish communityin the diamond business, and eventually started their own.

The Antwerp Indians still form a very tightly knit group and actively celebrate Indian festivals.

Indian Software companies like Aricent, HCL, TCS and Infosys have a presence in Belgium while Indian Software Professionals are in great demand by multinationals like Swift, Compaq and Alcatel. The professional Indians in Belgium represent the modern, youthful face of India.

Some Farm labourers and Shop-hands, mainly immigrants from North India have also managed to enter Belgium illegally [http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter11.pdf]

Indian Associations in Belgium

Despite the small size of the community there are several Indian cultural associations. The leading ones are Bhartiya Samaj, Antwerp India Association and Shanti Darshan.

An India Study Centre was set up in Antwerp in 1996.

The Indian community enjoys good relations with the local population. Due to their small size they are not politically active. The Indian community is law abiding.

A handful of Indians work in the financial institutions based in Luxembourg, which boasts an Indian Association. As in the Netherlands, Belgians regularly adopt children from India [http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter11.pdf]

There are about 250 families engaged in diamond trade in Antwerp. Many of the other Indians living in Belgium are professionals employed with either multinational companies or other professional organisations [http://www.indembassy.be/Bilateral_Belgium.asp Indian community in Belgium]

Brahma Kumaris in Belgium

Brahma Kumaris have three centres in Belgium

Main centre- Kortrijk, Budastraat 21/22, Kortrijk 8500 Second Centre- Brussels Stichelberg 27, 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden, Brussels Third Centre- Kontich Kosterijstraat 31, Kontich 2550

ISKCON in Belgium

ISKCON Belgium has centres in Antwerp, Septon and Gent. An Iskcon Temple is located in Radhadesh, Belgium.

ISKCON Centres in Belgium

ISKCON has seven centres in Belgium. They are

Centre 1- ISKCON, Antwerpen, Belgium

Centre 2- Local Get-together Program, Gent, Belgium

Centre 3- Local Get-together Program, Gent, Belgium

Centre 4- Bhaktivedanta College, Septon-Durbuy, Belgium
Hindu Vaishnava university in Belgium

Centre 5- Bhaktivedanta Library Services (BLS), Septon-Durbuy, Belgium

Centre 6- Govinda's Radhadesh, Septon-Durbuy, Belgium

Centre 7- ISKCON Radhadesh, Septon-Durbuy, Belgium

External links

* [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71371.htm There are 5,000 Hindus, 3,000 Sikhs and 1,500 Hare Krishnas in Belgium ]
* [http://www.radhadesh.com/index.php?id=155 The Hare Krishna Movement is the main representative of Hinduism in Belgium]
* [http://www.iskcon.com/worldwide/centres_detail/radhadesh.html Iskcon temple in Belgium ]
* [http://www.chez.com/namaskar/intro.htm Namaskar] - Hindu Association of Brussels, Belgium
* [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/wireless/story/0,8262,13-21073511,00.html Hindu Forum of Belgium, composed of about 20 organisations fights Swastika ban]
* [http://www.nriinternet.com/EUROPE/Belgium/DiamondBusiness/index.htm Gujaratis families dominate 60 percent diamond trade in Belgium]
* [http://www.bkwsu.org//whereweare/center Brahmakumaris in Belgium]