Traditionally the Tharu tribe lived in the forests of central India where they hunted wild game, fished and gathered food. They also practiced agriculture. They would clear a plot and farm it until the land became unproductive, then repeat the process elsewhere.
They have their own language called Tharu or Tharuhati. Most live in Nepal’s Terai region, but some are in India where they reside in the states of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The Tharu have their own forms of folk music, dancing and traditions. They build their homes from bamboo and mud. Most of their food involves rice, lentils and vegetables. They are not vegetarian, however.
With deforestation, the Tharu people have had to leave the forests and adapt to a new lifestyle. This usually involves being a day laborer or a small time farmer. They have organized their communities to fight back against being displaced.
They have their own gods and follow a Bharra (shaman). Besides the Bharra, who treats their diseases, the village headman, bhalamansa, and the Desi-Mahajan—a moneylender—are important people within the village.
The Tharu people need to be given the chance to hear the life-changing gospel so they can enjoy life to the full.
Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Tharu people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Tharu people to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Tharu in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Tharu |
People Name in Country | Tharu |
Pronunciation |
TAH-roo
|
Alternate Names | Kathoriya; Kathoriya Tharu; Mahatos; Mahatu; Tharu Rana; थारू |
Population this Country | 540,000 |
Population all Countries | 2,314,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 3 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 11 |
People ID | 15464 |
ROP3 Code | 110011 |
ROP25 Code | 308118 |
ROP25 Name | Tharu |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 21 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | |||||||||||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 21 (only 20 largest shown) |
Bihar 190,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh 125,000 | |
Uttarakhand 108,000 | |
Assam 61,000 | |
West Bengal 32,000 | |
Sikkim 18,000 | |
Arunachal Pradesh 1,300 | |
Manipur 1,000 | |
Meghalaya 800 | |
Maharashtra 500 | |
Madhya Pradesh 400 | |
Himachal Pradesh 200 | |
Jharkhand 200 | |
Punjab 60 | |
Chandigarh 50 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.09 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
1.47 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
98.10 %
|
Islam |
0.27 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.02 %
|
Unknown |
0.05 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Bhojpuri (159,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | bho Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 38 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Bhojpuri (159,000 speakers) |
Language Code | bho Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 38 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Hindi 108,000 | |
Nepali 80,000 | |
Kumaoni 50,000 | |
Tharu, Kathariya 36,000 | |
Tharu, Rana 8,800 | |
Buksa 6,300 | |
Bengali 3,300 | |
Tai Long 1,000 | |
Awadhi 700 | |
Maithili 600 | |
Chin, Thado 200 | |
Urdu 100 | |
Garhwali 100 | |
Tharu, Mid-Eastern 70 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 70 | |
People Groups | Speaking Bhojpuri |
Primary Language: Bhojpuri
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1911-1982) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1998-2007) |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |