Binjhia 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 Binjhia people are labeled a scheduled tribe in India. This means that their status is low, and they viewed as tribals, not fully in the mainstream of society. Though they once were scattered throughout central India, today they are mostly in Odisha and Jharkhand.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Binjhia are farmers. For them, land has both economical value and social status. Many of the Binjhia have no land of their own, and work others' land as hired laborers. Some work on a daily wage basis, while others work on yearly contracts. The daily laborers are either paid in cash or in rice. Their main crop is rice, grown in a flooded field. They also grow some vegetables such as tomatoes, chilies, cucumbers, and pumpkins. They learned their farming techniques from neighboring Hindu tribes. Their women do the weeding. The Binjhia are basically self-sufficient, living on what they raise in their gardens. Although they do not depend on the weekly markets for their food, they visit the markets to purchase items such as salt, kerosene, tobacco, dried fish, and cloth. Their women are most active in any financial decisions and transactions. They often resort to the barter system of exchanging goods. Binjhia women love to wear jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces, and armlets made of silver, brass, and beads. Beaded necklaces are their favorite. Binjhia men and women must wait until they are adults before they are married. Marriages are not arranged; young adults are free to choose their own mates. Weddings always begin on Sundays and last for several days. Each family lives in one or two roomed mud houses with thatched roofs. The tiny huts line both sides of the main village street. Overall, their living conditions are not very sanitary. Their goats and fowl are allowed to roam freely inside. Elderly villagers deal with any social issues or conflicts that arise. All adult villagers work together to come up with a final decision.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Because the Binjhia have had much contact with Hindus, they are classified as a Hindu tribe. Though they have adopted many Hindu gods and goddesses, they also practice a form of their own ethnic religion. Their village deity is named Budharaja. Their supreme deity, Bindya Basini, is represented by a stone in the shape of a woman. They believe she looks after their welfare, protecting them from all danger. They also keep many other gods are also kept in their homes. They make regular offerings of raw rice, milk, sweets, liquor, and fruit to these gods. Ancestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors) is another common practice. Because the Binjhia believe that their ancestors are reborn as children, children are worshipped at a festival once a year.


What Are Their Needs?

The Binjhia people need to put their faith in the Supreme, all-powerful God of the Bible, not deities that help to keep them away from the true Lord.


Prayer Points

Pray that the sheer wonder of knowing Jesus and the impact he has on their lives and the joy he brings spur believers to share Christ with the Binjhia people. Pray the hearts of the Binjhia people would be stirred by a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit readying them for the time when they hear the gospel message being shared with them. Pray they will experience dreams and visions of Jesus leading them into a saving relationship with Him. Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among the Binjhia people.


Scripture Prayers for the Binjhia in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Binjhia
People Name in Country Binjhia
Alternate Names Bijori; Bijoria; Binjhwar; Binjoa; Brijia; Brijlal; Brinjlat; Vindhyaaniwasi; Vindhyabasini Kshatriya; Vindyaniwasi; बिंझिया
Population this Country 211,000
Population all Countries 218,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
People ID 16489
ROP3 Code 111659
ROP25 Code 301240
ROP25 Name Binjhia
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 9
Largest States
Chhattisgarh
143,000
Madhya Pradesh
19,000
Jharkhand
17,000
Odisha
14,000
Maharashtra
11,000
West Bengal
3,700
Tripura
3,600
Assam
800
Goa
20
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 9
  Chhattisgarh 143,000
  Madhya Pradesh 19,000
  Jharkhand 17,000
  Odisha 14,000
  Maharashtra 11,000
  West Bengal 3,700
  Tripura 3,600
  Assam 800
  Goa 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.03 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.45 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
94.68 %
Islam
0.14 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
4.69 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (69,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 38
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Chhattisgarhi
47,000
Odia
19,000
Marathi
19,000
Sadri, Oraon
8,800
Sadri
5,300
Bijori
4,400
Bengali
4,100
Panchpargania
500
Assamese
200
Mundari
200
Gondi, Northern
100
Punjabi, Eastern
50
Kurux
40
Halbi
30
Santhali
30
Primary Language Hindi (69,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 38
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Chhattisgarhi 47,000
  Odia 19,000
  Marathi 19,000
  Sadri, Oraon 8,800
  Sadri 5,300
  Bijori 4,400
  Bengali 4,100
  Panchpargania 500
  Assamese 200
  Mundari 200
  Gondi, Northern 100
  Punjabi, Eastern 50
  Kurux 40
  Halbi 30
  Santhali 30
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
Photo Source (Representative photo)
debjanixyz - Pixabay 
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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