COURT HOUSE – With a proclamation at its Monday, Oct. 2, meeting, the Middle Township Committee acknowledged the many contributions made by Hinduism to world and American culture. The township declared October as Hindu Heritage Month.
Since 2013 the Hindu American Foundation has worked to increase awareness and appreciation of Hindu traditions and culture in America. Each year the number of communities across the country celebrating Hindu Heritage Month has grown.
Available census data shows that New Jersey has the second highest Hindu concentration in the nation, with just under 300,000. According to the Pew Research Center’s analysis of the religious affiliations of adults in New Jersey, Hindu represents about 3% of the population, which is the same percentage as Islam.
The 2020 census showed that Asian Indian is the largest subpopulation of all those who self-identified as Asian alone, with Chinese a distant second.
October is significant to Hindus as the birth month of Mahatma Gandhi. It is often when major Hindu holidays are celebrated.
Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
