Hindus in Brazil: Temples, Festivals, Spiritual Centres and Community Guide

Quick answer: Brazil's Indian community is small and lives mostly in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, but Hindu traditions are unusually visible. ISKCON runs temples and centres in many cities, including the Nova Gokula farm community near Pindamonhangaba in São Paulo state, founded in 1978. Rio is a centre of Vedanta and Sanskrit study, and yoga and meditation schools have large followings across the country. Brazil is 8½ hours behind India, so some festival dates fall a day earlier. The next big dates are Dev Uthani Ekadashi on Friday 20 November, Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Gita Jayanti on Sunday 20 December and Datta Jayanti on Wednesday 23 December 2026.

This is HinduTone's starting point for Hindus in Brazil and Brazilians drawn to Hindu traditions: the temples and centres, the festival year with Brazilian dates, and practical guidance. Estimates of the number of Hindus in Brazil differ widely and there is no recent official count, so we do not give one.

Editor's note (8 November 2026): festival dates are HinduTone's calculation for Brazilian cities using Drik Panchang rules. Details of temples and centres are from their official websites and pages; check current programmes before you visit.

Temples and spiritual centres

• ISKCON (Hare Krishna) temples: in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and many other cities, with Sunday programmes, kirtan and vegetarian meals.
• Nova Gokula, Pindamonhangaba (São Paulo state): the ISKCON farm community founded in 1978, with a temple, a school and festivals.
• Vedanta and Sanskrit study in Rio de Janeiro: classes in the Gita, the Upanishads and Sanskrit.
• Other traditions: Sathya Sai groups, the Brahma Kumaris and many yoga and meditation schools.

For addresses and more centres, see Hindu temples and spiritual centres in Brazil.

Where the community lives

• São Paulo: the largest Indian community, with Indian companies, restaurants, grocery shops and cultural associations; see Diwali in São Paulo.
• Rio de Janeiro: a smaller community and an active Vedanta and yoga scene.
• Brasília: home of the Embassy of India, whose cultural programmes include festival events.

The festival year in Brazil

Month by month: November 2026 and December 2026. Diwali 2026 has passed; our Diwali times for Brazilian cities stay online for reference.

Why Brazilian dates can differ: a festival is set by the tithi current at local sunrise, or at another set time of day. When a tithi begins during India's night, it can already be current at sunrise in Brazil on the previous calendar day.

Practical guidance

• Summer festivals: Vaikuntha Ekadashi and Sankranti fall in the Brazilian summer; keep lamps away from fans and open windows.
• Puja items: Indian grocery shops in São Paulo and online sellers stock incense, ghee and puja items; ISKCON shops sell murtis and books.
• Vrats with a full-time job: see our vrat guide for busy professionals abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Are there Hindu temples in Brazil?

Yes. ISKCON runs temples in many cities, including the Nova Gokula community in São Paulo state, and there are Vedanta, Sathya Sai and Brahma Kumaris centres.

Where do Indians live in Brazil?

Mostly in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with smaller numbers in Brasília and other cities.

When is Vaikuntha Ekadashi 2026 in Brazil?

Sunday 20 December 2026, together with Gita Jayanti.