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Flourishing Kali Temple in the heart of Yangon, Myanmar

Namaste,

Today I am writing a blog on a Hindu temple situated in Little India in downtown Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). I visited Shri Kali Amman temple on 1st November 2019.

Photographer: Brian J. McMorrow
  About the Place

This temple was founded by the Tamil trader’s community in 1871 when Burma was a part of British India. Later, the Marwari community who used to be in trading business as well further illuminated the temple. The temple is purely based on Dravidian architecture and lies in the heart of Yangon.

The Kali temple is well maintained, and people of diversified Hindu communities offers prayer in the temple. The priest can very well speak in Hindi and apparently this temple attracts a lot of tourists as well mainly from South East Asian countries.


 History of Hinduism in Myanmar

Talking about Hinduism in the country of Myanmar, it is said that close to 2.5 Lakh people practices Hinduism. Mainly being a Buddhist country, Hinduism in Myanmar has been deeply influenced by Buddhism in a significant way and that can be seen in the form of Buddha statues in every Hindu temple. The Burmese Indians in Myanmar are mostly Tamils, Bengalis, Odias, Manipuris, some from the Northern part of India. Even many Nepali communities’ practices Hinduism.

The Indian population in Myanmar is diversified and the Burmese Indians practices Hinduism which is deeply influenced by Buddhism and it can be seen from the other way as well. Buddhism too has been influenced by Hinduism. This can be seen in the traditional Burmese literature wherein many Hindu deities have been mentioned. Even the epic mythology book of the Hindus i.e. Ramayana has been adapted in Burmese and named as Yama Zatdaw. In addition, the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati has been mentioned in many traditional Burmese scripts as Thuyathadi. There are also references of Vishnu, Shiva and other Hindu deities.


The people I came across in the temple were extremely generous and devoted. Coincidently we got a chance to talk to some Indian people settled in Yangon. They were extremely generous, friendly and briefed us about the history of the temple and the surrounding areas. One can go to a deeper extent to find more revelations of Myanmar's beautiful religious enrichment. There is always a history in anything and everything.


Feel free to enlighten me or anyone like I do. This is the best way to learn from each other. 
-Addie @ Shri Kali Mata Temple

Hope this helps. Stay tuned for more blogs. 🙂

Let’s travel...!! 😊

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Location: Anawrahta Rd, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

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