Bhanumati in India

The Bhanumati have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Bhanumatis were traditionally magicians and tight-rope walkers. Through the years they lost the financial patronage from feudal chiefs.

Among their own community, they speak Malvi, but they use Hindi when communicating with outsiders. They have less contact with other communities than most low class communities.

Though they are from the Rajasthani people group cluster, most of them live either in Madhya Pradesh or Chhattisgarh than in the state of Rajasthan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today they are engaged in both agricultural and non-agricultural work. Women often work as day laborers, but sadly, it is very common for unmarried Bhanumati girls to engage in prostitution. Though this line of "work" is socially approved in their communities, they pay a high price for it. Bhanumati prostitutes must live in separate houses with their illegitimate children. Only midwifes from their own community will deliver babies born to prostitutes, since women from other communities will not deliver an illegitimate child.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bhanumati people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bhanumati people need to find the dignity and purpose of following Jesus Christ, the one who provides life to the full.


Prayer Points

Their isolation from other communities may prove to be a challenge to taking the gospel to them. Pray for the Lord to make a way for Bhanumati people to find and embrace their true Savior.

Pray for the Bhanumati people to turn to Christ as a group and become an example of what Jesus can do for a people who submit to him.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhanumati in India.


References

The Scheduled Castes K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bhanumati
People Name in Country Bhanumati
Alternate Names भानुमति
Population this Country 2,800
Population all Countries 2,800
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16485
ROP3 Code 111654
ROP25 Code 301130
ROP25 Name Bhanumati
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 3
Largest States
Madhya Pradesh
2,100
Rajasthan
600
Chhattisgarh
50
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 3
  Madhya Pradesh 2,100
  Rajasthan 600
  Chhattisgarh 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.54 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
1.46 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (2,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Malvi
400
Chhattisgarhi
Primary Language Hindi (2,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Malvi 400
  Chhattisgarhi 0
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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.



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