Asian Indians in the United States

In honor of my documentary, Of Beauty and Deities:  Music and Dance of India, here is some information about Asian Indians in the United States:

As of the 2010 census, there were about 3 million Asian Indians in the United States.  They are the third largest Asian ethnic group in our country, being surpassed only by Chinese Americans and Filipino Americans.

Inside a grocery store catering to Asian Indians.

Five states - California, New York, New Jersey, Texas and Illinois - have close to 2 million with California toping the list, at 528,176.  Most live in cities, and the five cities with the largest concentrations are greater New York, greater Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Dallas-Fort Worth.

Little India in Chicago.

As a group, adult Asian Indians are among the most highly educated in the United States.  Some 71% have at least a BA!

Immigration from India began in the mid-19th century and at first, was composed mainly of people from Northwestern India who followed the Sikh religion.  (It's easy to recognize Sikh men because, if they have been baptised, they wear a turban.)  Now, however, Hindus are definitely in the majority.

A guard for the Sikh's holy Golden Temple in northwest India.

First and second generation Indian Americans, as is true of many other immigrant groups, are especially likely to maintain the most important aspects of the culture of the motherland.  This includes food, religion, and often dress.

It may also include learning the classical southern Indian dance and music form, closely associated with the Hindu religion, that is called bharatanatyam.  Bharatanatyam is the subject of our documentary.

Bharatanatyam dancers from Kalanjali:  Dances of India (located in Berkeley, CA.).

Currently, in the United States, you can find Hindu and Sikh temples along with Muslim mosques and Christian churches whose worshippers are primarily Asian Indian.

clockwise from top left:  Sikh temple, Hindu temple, and Muslim mosque

In addition, in many American cities with a large number of Asian Indians, there are colorful annual celebrations of important events such as Indian Independence Day, where you can get great food, have your hand painted, and enjoy a parade.

Rajastani float in a parade celebrating Indian Independence Day in California.

We created our documentary, Of Beauty and Deities, in honor of this long and rich culture, and a community which has brought a great deal of talent and culture to our society.