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कोलम्बिया में भारतीय colombianos indios | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Total population | |
| 153 - 5,000[1][2] | |
| Languages | |
| Spanish,English,Hindi,Punjabi, otherIndian languages | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism,Sikhism,Catholicism,Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Asian Colombians |
Indian Colombians areIndian immigrants in Colombia and their descendants. The Indian community in Colombia is not as large as otherAsian Colombian communities, but there are some places in Colombia where they have an established presence with Indian-made businesses.[3] The vast majority of Colombians who have Indian ancestry are ofIndo-Caribbean origin, this includes those fromGuyana,Suriname, andTrinidad and Tobago. Of Indian nationals in Colombia, most cite work related motivations as their reason for relocating to Colombia.[4]
The first recorded arrival of Indians in Colombia was during the 19th century.
At the beginning of the 20th century,Indian Muslim migrants settled in the towns of theCauca River valley, some just temporarily and others permanently, to engage in the commercial activity demanded by the new working population of the nascentsugar industry. These immigrants brought a variety of products to rural areas, both grantingcredit and acceptingbarter.[5]
The migration from India into Colombia increased in the 1960s and 1980s, with immigrants settling in areas of the Pacific region, such asCali and on the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
In recent years, Indian migrant workers in the oil industry have come to Latin American countries, including Colombia. In 2014,Migración Colombia reported that 343 Indians entered Colombia, with only 48 of them being women.[4]
Today, small communities of Indian Colombians can be found inBogotá, Cali,Barranquilla,Medellín,[4] andSanta Marta.
In cities like Barranquilla, there are important Indian restaurants and events, as well as established Indian businesses.
With the arrival of Indians, particularly immigrant workers from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname, came the introduction of numerous prominent Indian religions such asHinduism,Sikhism, andIslam.[6]
