Multilingual Prayer Practices among Sindhi Hindus in Malaysia: Negotiating Heritage, Identity, and Change

Abstract

This study explores multilingual practices in prayers of Sindhi Hindus in Malaysia, discussing how multilingual choices in different religious settings reflect legacy support, personality arrangement, and adjustment in diaspora. Employing unstructured interviews conducted with eight participants, followed by observation of religious places and YouTube recordings, the study thematically analyzed generational differences and language choices in relation to prayers. Findings show that while older Sindhis conserve Sindhi and Hindi languages in communal prayers, more youthful Sindhis increasingly use English in private commitments, reconceptualizing prayer as personalized spirituality. Multilingual practices also underpin inclusivity, enabling Sindhis to take interest in interfaith religious prayers and practices. The study underlines the association of Sindhi with diasporic religiosity, the dominance of Hindi in customs, and the increasing affiliation of English with reflection and modernization. Finally, this study contributes to scholarship on diaspora multilingualism, religiosity, and heritage language maintenance.