It is estimated that the city of Lahore, Pakistan, has a Muslim majority with 94.7% and a Christian minority constitutes 5.1% of the population whilst Sikhs and Hindus constitute the remaining 0.2%. There is also a small but longstanding Zoroastrian community.
Before Partition
Prior to the partition of India in 1947, a third of Lahore district's population was Hindu and Sikh. Hindus and Sikhs used to reside in 'distinct enclaves'. The city's Hindu and Sikh population left en masse during the partition and shifted to East Punjab and Delhi in India. In the process, Lahore lost its entire Hindu and Sikh population. The emigrants were replaced by Muslim refugees from India. Muslim refugees and locals competed for ownership over abandoned Hindu and Sikh property.
Lahore District + Religious groups in Lahore District (British Punjab province era)Religiousgroup19011911192119311941 Islam 717,519 626,271 647,640 815,820 1,027,772 Hinduism 276,375 217,609 255,690 259,725 284,689 Sikhism 159,701 169,008 179,975 244,304 310,646 Christianity 7,296 21,781 46,454 57,097 70,147 Jainism 1,047 1,139 1,209 1,450 1,951 Zoroastrianism 171 209 179 159 136 Buddhism 0 128 170 14 32 Judaism 0 13 13 1 2 Others 0 0 6 0 0 Total population 1,162,109 1,036,158 1,131,336 1,378,570 1,695,375 + Religion in the Tehsils of Lahore District (1921)TehsilIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity Jainism OthersTotal Lahore Tehsil 290,325 139,215 57,337 27,898 478 360 515,613 Chunian Tehsil 179,399 61,475 49,151 5,408 76 0 295,509 Kasur Tehsil 177,916 55,000 73,487 13,154 655 2 320,214 + Religion in the Tehsils of Lahore District (1941)TehsilHinduism Islam Sikhism Christianity Jainism OthersTotal Lahore Tehsil 193,714 552,907 103,312 37,442 1,095 2,458 890,024 Chunian Tehsil 56,293 237,829 83,888 11,730 47 165 390,852 Kasur Tehsil 34,682 237,036 123,446 18,514 809 8 414,499
Lahore City
+ Religious groups in Lahore City (1881−1941)Religiousgroup1881189119011911192119311941 Islam 86,413 102,280 119,601 129,801 149,044 249,315 433,170 Hinduism 53,641 62,077 70,196 77,267 107,783 139,125 179,422 Sikhism 4,627 7,306 7,023 12,877 12,833 23,477 34,021 Christianity 529 4,697 5,558 8,436 11,287 16,875 21,495 Jainism 227 339 420 467 474 791 1,094 Zoroastrianism 132 166 198 177 150 Judaism 14 13 13 0 Buddhism 0 0 128 170 14 Others 3,932 9 0 0 0 0 2,457 Total population 149,369 176,854 202,964 228,687 281,781 429,747 671,659
Religious heritage Hindu legends mention Lahore was once named Lavapura, after Lava, son of Lord Rama, Hindu God from Ramayana as one of etymological theory of Lahore. A vacant temple, the Lava Temple, dedicated to this figure is contained inside the Lahore Fort.Naqoosh, Lahore Number 1976
The first Persian text on Sufism was written, by Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Shaykh Abul Hasan 'Ali Hujwiri R.A. in Lahore which became a major source for early Sufi thought and practice. Hazrat e Hujwiri R.A's tomb in Lahore is one of the major Sufi shrines in the subcontinent. Several other leading Sufi saints are buried in Lahore. These Sufi shrines have contributed to making Lahore an important place of pilgrimage. During the Mughal era, several impressive buildings including mosques were constructed, contributing to the city's rich Mughal heritage.
The city is also of importance to Sikhs as some Sikh sites such as the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh are situated inside Lahore.
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