Balahar (Hindu traditions) in India

The Balahar (Hindu traditions) have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Balahar people are also known as the Vargis, Chobdars or Thakurs. They came from Rajasthan where they once had a close economic and social links with the powerful Rajputs and other ruling communities. They worked as town criers who announced news from the Rajas to the villages. Since that time, the Balahar have migrated east to north central India.

The primary language of the Balahar is Hindi. Many resources are available in Hindi including a complete Bible, the JESUS Film and radio programs. There are few if any Balahar believers in Christ. They live in Uttar Pradesh, a state where Hindi is the primary language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Balahar people are farmers or herd livestock for a living. Most farm on land owned by others. As sharecroppers they must give a large percentage of their produce to the landowners. Other Balahar care for sheep, goats and cattle. They sell meat, dairy products and animal hides to buy things they cannot make for themselves such as cell phones and appliances. The Balahar are classified as an OBC or other backward castes by the Indian government. That means they are able to obtain government jobs and special university admissions. Balahar are considered to be outside the Hindu religious system. They are often victims of discrimination in Indian society.

Some Balahar have received an education work for the government. Child labor is common among them. Many Balahar are unable to read and write. Children often quit school after a few years to help their families make a living.

Like almost all Hindus, the Balahar people do not eat beef, though they are not vegetarians.

Their marriages are arranged by family negotiations. They marry within their group but not within their particular clan. Divorce can be initiated by either party on the grounds of adultery or incompatibility. The aggrieved party is compensated with money. All the sons of a couple get an equal inheritance. Balahar tend to have large families. In rural areas they frequently do not have access to modern medicine or clean water. Life expectancy is low and child mortality is high.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Balahar people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Since they are from a low class community, they have their own priests and shrines. 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 Balahar have great needs. They need good schools for their children. They need access to modern medicine. They need literacy and new job skills. Like all other unreached peoples of the world, this people group needs the blessings and guidance that only Jesus Christ can offer.


Prayer Points

Pray that Balahar would be able to provide for their children with excellent schools.

Pray that these Hindus will be given the chance to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Ask the Lord to send out loving workers to go to the Balahar people.

Pray for the Balahar to tune into Hindi radio programs.

Pray that more Balahar would read the Hindi Bible and embrace the message.

Ask the Lord to raise up a growing church among the Balahar in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Balahar (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Balahar

peoplegroups.org/explore/GroupDetails.aspx?peid=49359


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Balahar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Balahar (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Balhar; Chobdar; Thakur; Vargi; बलहर (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 5,700
Population all Countries 5,700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16308
ROP3 Code 111437
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 2
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
5,600
Uttarakhand
90
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 2
  Uttar Pradesh 5,600
  Uttarakhand 90
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.20 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.70 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.10 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (4,500 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Braj Bhasha
500
Bhojpuri
50
Garhwali
30
Primary Language Hindi (4,500 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Braj Bhasha 500
  Bhojpuri 50
  Garhwali 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 Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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 and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024