Kirar in India

The Kirar 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 Kirar or Kirad are an agricultural people who live in central India. They claim to be descendants of Rajputs but other Rajputs do not accept them as belonging to their caste. Their name comes from a village in Rajastan where they originally lived before migrating across India.

The Kirar live near riverbanks where they cultivate cotton, sugar cane, the grain sorghum, lentils and other crops. They are considered a Backward Caste and are eligible for reserved places in public jobs and education. In a recent survey 80% of Kirar men were literate and only 50% of Kirar women. Some Kirar work their own land while others work as landless laborers.

While the majority of the Kirar follow their traditional occupation of farming, some educated Kirar have gained positions in public service, schools, engineering and business.

The primary language of the Kirar is Hindi. They also speak other regional Indian languages.


Where Are they Located?

Most Kirar live in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Some also live in Rajastan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lives of the Kirar are influenced by the monsoon wet/dry yearly cycles and the Hindu holidays. Their primary food is sorghum or white millet. Rice and wheat are only eaten on festival days. As a rule, they are vegetarians. Men are known to eat meat except for beef on feast days.

Brahmin priests are paid to perform important life rituals like birth, weddings and funerals. The Kirar are endogamous, that is they marry within their group. Families arrange marriages. A young person is not allowed to marry someone with the same surname or the surname of his or her mother's brother. Newly married couples live with or near the father of the groom. Sons inherit property with the eldest son receiving the parent's home. Dead marriage people are cremated while single people are buried.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kirar practice Hinduism, the ancient religion and culture of India. They worship and serve the many gods of the Hindu pantheon. They often visit Hindu temples where they offer food, flowers and incense to their deities. The Kirar pay special allegiance to Durga, the warrior-mother goddess and Nag Deo, the cobra god.

The Kirar participate in the annual Hindu holidays such as Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the nine-day celebration of autumn.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kirar need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They also need help in educating their children and in aiding them to obtain higher crop yields on their farms. The Kirar need to see that the rituals and good works of Hinduism will not make them right with a holy God.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord sends Christian workers to befriend the Kirar and share with them the gospel of Christ.
Pray God softens the hearts of the Kirar so they might be open to hearing the claims of Christ.
Pray for God to win many Kirar to Himself and that Bible-believing, growing churches are planted in their community.


Scripture Prayers for the Kirar in India.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirar
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Kirar
http://indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Kirar:_Kirad


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Kirar
People Name in Country Kirar
Pronunciation kee-RAHR
Alternate Names Dhakar; Karod; Kerat; Kirad; Kirod; किरार
Population this Country 1,014,000
Population all Countries 1,014,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 20
PeopleID3 17194
ROP3 Code 112557
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 6
Largest States
Madhya Pradesh
822,000
Uttar Pradesh
82,000
Rajasthan
77,000
Maharashtra
32,000
Andhra Pradesh
400
Chhattisgarh
300
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 6
  Madhya Pradesh 822,000
  Uttar Pradesh 82,000
  Rajasthan 77,000
  Maharashtra 32,000
  Andhra Pradesh 400
  Chhattisgarh 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (792,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
Bundeli
35,000
Marathi
24,000
Haroti: Harauti
23,000
Dhundari
10,000
Malvi
4,000
Braj Bhasha
3,000
Chhattisgarhi
300
Mewari: Khairari
100
Wagdi
20
Primary Language Hindi (792,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
  Bundeli 35,000
  Marathi 24,000
  Haroti: Harauti 23,000
  Dhundari 10,000
  Malvi 4,000
  Braj Bhasha 3,000
  Chhattisgarhi 300
  Mewari: Khairari 100
  Wagdi 20
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)
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General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Hindi) Scripture Earth
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Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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