In THIS country, India’s neighbour, temples are banned, performing pujas can land you in jail, its not Pakistan, Bangladesh, China but…

This country has a population of around 550,000, which includes thousands of foreign workers, mainly from India and Sri Lanka, who are employed in education, healthcare, and the hospitality industry.

Hindu temples can be built in many countries around the world, including some Muslim-majority nations. In fact, places like Pakistan and Bangladesh have Hindu temples where festivals are celebrated, and prayers are conducted without major restrictions. However, there is one neighboring country of India where building a Hindu temple is completely forbidden. Hindus working there must worship in secret, without drawing any attention.

It may come as a surprise that this country, which was once home to Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, does not allow Hindu temples today. Despite having fluctuating relations with India, this country remains heavily dependent on India for essential supplies like water and vegetables.

So, which country is this, and why are Hindu temples not allowed there? The country in question is Maldives. According to the Maldivian Constitution, all citizens must be Muslim. The country has strict laws against non-Islamic religious practices, symbols, and places of worship, making it impossible to establish a Hindu temple there.

A small country with strict religious laws

The Maldives has a population of around 550,000, which includes thousands of foreign workers, mainly from India and Sri Lanka, who are employed in education, healthcare, and the hospitality industry. Despite its international workforce, the country enforces its religious laws strictly, making public celebrations of Hindu festivals or customs nearly impossible.

In terms of land area, Maldives is a tiny nation, covering only 298 square kilometers. To put that into perspective, India’s capital, Delhi, is almost five times bigger (1,483 sq km), and even the small Indian union territory of Puducherry (492 sq km) is larger than the Maldives.

The Maldives consists of 1,192 small islands, but only 200 of them are inhabited. The country lies 450-500 kilometers from India, with the nearest Indian city being Kochi, Kerala. Despite its close geographical proximity, its religious laws create a stark contrast in religious freedom compared to India.

Why Hindu temples are not allowed in Maldives

Hindu temples cannot be built in the Maldives due to strict constitutional, legal, and religious policies. The Maldivian Constitution, which was amended in 2008, declares the country as a 100% Islamic nation. According to Article 9, only Muslims can be Maldivian citizens, and the practice, promotion, or public display of any non-Islamic religion is strictly prohibited. This means that Hindu temples, churches, gurdwaras, or any other non-Islamic places of worship cannot be built in the Maldives.

No public worship or religious activities

To reinforce this rule, the constitution was modified to ensure that only mosques are allowed in the country. Hindus living in the Maldives, even temporarily, are not allowed to practice their religion in public or perform religious rituals openly. Reports suggest that around 1,500 to 2,000 Hindus live in the Maldives for work, but they cannot openly celebrate their festivals or conduct religious ceremonies.

Secret worship by Hindus

Due to strict restrictions, idol worship and religious gatherings are impossible in the Maldives. Hindu expatriates pray discreetly inside their homes, avoiding any public display of their faith. Additionally, religious items and symbols are not easily available in the country, and bringing them in is difficult. At Maldivian airports, authorities strictly check for religious symbols, and if found, they can confiscate them. Violating these religious laws can lead to fines, imprisonment, or even deportation.

As a result, Hindus in the Maldives keep their worship private and avoid letting local landlords or colleagues know about their religious practices. If discovered, they could face serious consequences, making it extremely challenging to openly follow their faith in the Maldives.

No citizenship for non-Muslims

The Maldives allows foreign workers to stay temporarily, but non-Muslims cannot get citizenship. The government does not provide any public facilities for religious practices outside of Islam. Promoting or participating in any non-Islamic religious activity is considered a serious crime in the Maldives. Those caught violating these laws can face imprisonment, fines, or deportation. Due to this strict policy, no individual or organization attempts to build a Hindu temple in the country.

Even though the Maldives is a popular tourist destination, Hindu tourists visiting the country cannot bring religious symbols or worship materials, as strict restrictions apply to such items at the airport.

Maldives was once a Hindu-Buddhist country

Historically, the Maldives was influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism. Until the 12th century, Maldivian kings and the general population followed these religions. However, with the arrival of Arab traders and Sufi preachers, the Maldivian rulers converted to Islam. Soon after, the entire population adopted Islam, and the country officially became an Islamic state in 1153 AD.

What happened to the old temples?

There are no Hindu or Buddhist temples left in the Maldives today. Before the 12th century, Buddhist temples and religious structures were present across the islands, heavily influenced by India and Sri Lanka. However, when the country embraced Islam, most of these temples were systematically destroyed. Many were either completely demolished or repurposed into mosques.

Archaeological findings suggest that some old Buddhist structures still lie beneath ancient mosques in the capital city, Male. These remains indicate that Islamic structures were built over the ruins of older Hindu and Buddhist temples after the conversion of the country.