Chinese temples in Kolkata

The Gods enshrined in the Toong On Church of Kolkata, India.
The Gods enshrined in the Nam Soon Church of Kolkata, India.

Chinese temples are sacred sites for the practice of Chinese folk religion. Kolkata has a significant population of Indian nationals of Chinese ethnic origin (immigrants and their descendants that emigrated from China starting in the late 18th century to work at the Kolkata port as well as the Chennai port). Unofficial estimates puts the population of Indian nationals of Chinese-origin in Kolkata anywhere from 5,000 to 200,000, most of whom live in or near Tangra.[1][2] The Chinese brought with them their culture. At least eight of the Chinese temples are located in the old Chinatown around Tiretta Bazar in Central Kolkata.[3]

Temples

Though the places of worship are referred to as "churches", they are sites of veneration that adhere to Chinese traditional religion and have nothing to do with Christianity.

Deities of the Nam Soon Church 
Religious weaponry and scrolls of the Sea Ip Church 
Religious weaponry and scrolls of the Sea Ip Church 
Ling Liang Church sign 
Kuan Shih Yin enshrined in the Sea Ip Church 
Internal hall of the Toong On Church 
Entrance to the Toong On Church 
Entrance to the Sea Ip Church 

See also

Chinese folk religion

References

  1. ↑ Ray, Haraprasad (2012). "Chinese, The". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ↑ Biswas, Ranjita (2005). "Little China Stays Alive in Eastern India". IPS News. Inter Press Service News Agency. Retrieved 26 September 2006. Though most of the local Chinese are Christians, they celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year with gusto and many who emigrated from Kolkata make it a point to return at this time.
  3. ↑ Jaideep, Majumdar (17 January 2012). "A walk to unravel the confluence of cultures in Kolkata". Times of India. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
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