Learn about Fiji Islands

How/ why and when Indians arrived to Fiji

Between 1879-1916, Indians came as indentured laborers to work on sugar plantations. After the indentured system was abolished, many stayed as independent farmers and businessmen even though they were offered to go back to India, most preferred to stay. Through the years, they have continued to work the land, becoming prominent in agriculture and in commerce. Today, they comprise of 43.6% of the population.

Indians living in the rural areas have adapted well and some even speak the local dialect and mix well with the Fijians. 

As a country, Fiji is a rural based with 60% of the population living in the rural areas.

Religion:

A multi-racial, multi-cultural national, Fiji is represented by all the major religions of the world.

More than half of the Fiji’s populations are christians (52.9%) with Hindus (38.1%), Muslim (7.8%), Sikhs (0.7%) and others (0.5%)

Language: 

Since, Indo-Fijians have come from different parts of India they have developed their own language known as 'Fiji Hindi’, which is apparently formed mainly from the Indian dialects of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and you can tell where one comes from, from their dialect. Fiji-Hindi is not the same as the one spoken in India. 

Tourism: 

Fiji is a unique and tropical paradise in the South Pacific. Beautiful sand beaches, precious coral reefs, forest and plenty of sunshine.

Facts about Fiji:

• Fiji is made up of 333 islands and only 1/3 of the islands is inhabited, about 500 small islets belong to Fiji. 
• Fiji belongs to the Polynesian Island
• Capital of Fiji is Suva, home to 180,000 people, 
• Largest island of Fiji is called Viti Levu and covers more than half of the country’s land area.
• More than Half of the land area in Fiji is covered with Forest. 
• Cannibalism was once common practice among Fijians but in 1871, King Ratu Cakobau, encouraged his people to stop eating other humans.
• The root of Yaqona bush, is ground up and strained with water to make Fijian’s traditional drink “Kava”
• Mel Gibson(Famous Actor/Director) owes Mago Island, a private island.