Introduction / History

The Baria are a community that primarily lives in Gujarat but they also live in other states.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Mainly a landowning community, agriculture is the traditional as well as present-day occupation of the Baria. Social control is regulated by their caste council. Property is equally divided among the sons, while the house is inherited by the youngest son of the family. Baria women work in the fields and forests, and as laborers in road construction work to supplement the family income. Women wear a golden armlet (kada) and apply spangle (tikki) on their forehead as marriage symbols.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Baria worship clan deities on important occasions. They visit shrines and temples of Hindu gods and goddesses and celebrate Janmashtami, Holi, Dhuleti, Raksha Bandhan, Diwasa, Dussehra, Diwali, etc.

What Are Their Needs?

One can expect spiritual opposition when Jesus is presented. Workers need to be prayerfully prepared for this. Perhaps Christian workers in other communities will be led to take the good news of Christ to the Baria. Pray they will be obedient to this leading.

Prayer Points

Pray the Lord will begin to stir the hearts of many in this community to know the creator God.

Pray the Baria will soon be set completely free from the worship of created things.

Spiritual matters are spiritually understood, therefore, pray for the Lord's Spirit to grant understanding.

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

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baria_Koli