Pura Girinatha

Pura Girinatha is the largest Balinese Hindu temple in East Timor.^[1][2] It is located in the quarter Taibesi, in the south of the capital city of Dili, near the local market. The temple is located on a small hill outside the city center, but is accessible by car.^[2]

History

Timor has no traditional Hindu population. The temple was built during the Indonesian occupation and was intended for the Hindu immigrants of that time, who mainly came from Bali. The inauguration took place on 27 June 1987 by Governor of East Timor Mário Viegas Carrascalão.^[3] After the end of the occupation, most Hindus left the country. In 2015, only 272 East Timorese profess Hinduism.^[4] Now the temple is quite run down,^[5] although some Balinese from Indonesia and East Timorese government has started efforts to revitalize the temple.^[2]

Gallery

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  View of the temple
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pura Girinatha.

1. ^ The Bali Times: Pastika Thanks Gusmao over Dili Temple, accessed on November 24, 2015.
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Pura Girinatha, Satunya-Satunya Pura di Dili Timor Leste" [Girinatha Temple, The Only Temple in Dili East Timor] (in Indonesian). Beritabali.com. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
3. ^ Photo of commemorative plaque on Commons
4. ^ Direcção Nacional de Estatística: Results of the 2015 Census, accessed on 23 November 2016.
5. ^ Sekaa Truna Truni Putra Sesana: Pura di Timor Leste, March 16, 2011, retrieved on November 24, 2015.