People-in-Country Profile

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Beldar, Hindu of India

. ^[1]

Map source: Omid / Joshua Project / Global Mapping Intl

Population ^[2]	Language	Religion	% Christian	% Evangl	Online NT	Jesus Film	Progress
1,788,000	Kannada	Hinduism	0.00 %	0.00 %	Not available		1.1

Beldar, Hindu of India

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Introduction / History The word Beldar is derived from two words; "bel" meaning a digging instrument, and "dar" referring to the person who handles it. They are associated with digging and carrying soil in the context of agriculture. Though fewer in number, there are Beldars who are engaged in animal husbandry, small business, industrial work, and unskilled labor. The Beldar people have their own folk songs and folk-tales. Though they speak in the Baghelkandi dialect at home, most of them also speak Hindi. Where are they located? Population figures for this Hindu group fluxuates from five figures to almost 2 million. They perceive themselves as part of the low Shudra caste, and others perceive them as being in this category as well. After cremating their dead, they worship the deceased's spirit a year later. There are only about 100 Christ-followers in this people group that lives mainly in Madhya Pradesh, but some live in Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal. Prayer Points * Pray for Indian missionaries to produce stories and songs in the Beldar traditions that will lead them to seek Jesus Christ. * Pray for them to have easy access to materials in the Hindi language. References Some information from "The Scheduled Castes" K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994) Text source: Global Prayer Digest / Keith Carey View Beldar, Hindu in all countries.
Prayer Links
PrayerGuard.net

Geography

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Country:

Continent:

Region:

31 (, 1 = highest persecution ranking)

Yes

Population in Country:

1,788,000

Largest States:

Karnataka (639,000)	Bihar (300,000)
Tamil Nadu (228,000)	Maharashtra (206,000)
Uttar Pradesh (184,000)	Andhra Pradesh (146,000)
Madhya Pradesh (33,000)	Jharkhand (8,700)
Gujarat (8,000)	West Bengal (7,100)

Total States on file:

Maps

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Ethnolinguistic Map:

Peoples ^[3]

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People Name in Country:

Beldar, Hindu

People Name General:

Alternate People Names:

Bachgotra	Bentkar
Bhujan	Bhujwa
Bunkar	Changar
Chauhan	Chunar
Chunara	Chunari
Chuncha	Gavandi
Goundi	Govandi
Kannada Naicker	Karpoora Chetti

111517

16375

Yes

Population in Country:

1,788,000

Population all Countries:

Yes

Ethnicity

People Name General:

CNN23a

Ethnic Relationships:

Language

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Primary Language:

(628,000 Speakers)

kan

Secondary Languages:

Hindi (410,000)	Telugu (271,000)
Marathi (198,000)	Tamil (116,000)
Bhojpuri (96,000)	Magahi (96,000)
Maithili (38,000)	Marwari (19,000)
Konkani (15,000)	Bengali (10,000)
Note: Only 10 largest secondary languages listed

Total Languages:

Religion ^[4]

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Primary Religion:

Buddhism	0.00 %
Christianity	0.00 %	(Evangelical: 0.00 %)
Ethnic Religions	0.00 %
Hinduism	99.62 %
Islam	0.00 %
Non-Religious	0.00 %
Other / Small	0.38 %
Unknown	0.00 %

Progress Indicators ^[5]

: ^[6]

1.1

Yes

Bible Translation Status

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Bible Portions:

1988

New Testament:

1995

Complete Bible:

2000

Possible Bible Sources:

Ministry Resources ^[7]		Submit Link:
Audio Recordings	MegaVoice Audio Bible and Stories
Audio Recordings	Fathers Love Letter
Audio Recordings	Global Recordings
Audio Recordings	Gospel Widgets
Audio Recordings	Online New Testament (Talking Bibles)
Film / Video	Gods Story
Film / Video	Jesus Film: view in Kannada
Film / Video	Magdalena (Jesus Film Project)
Film / Video	Story of Jesus for Children
Film / Video	World Christian Videos
General	Evangelism Toolbox
General	Four Spiritual Laws
General	Who is God Tract
Printed Matter	Heavenly Man
Printed Matter	Literacy & Evangelism International
Printed Matter	No Frontiers Literature
Printed Matter	World Christian Tract Ministry
Scripture	Bible-in-Your-Language
Scripture	International Bible Society
Scripture	World Bible Translation Center
Scripture	World Missionary Press Booklets
Scripture	World Scriptures

Ministry Activity

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your ministry activity among this people group. Contact the Adopt-A-People Clearinghouse to learn about others that might be focused on this people group.