Banai Hajang in India

The Banai Hajang 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 Hajang are an indigenous people who live in the northeast Indian states of Megahalaya and Assam and in the country of Bangladesh. Their primary occupation is agriculture along with hunting, fishing and weaving. When Muslim armies invaded northeast India, many Hajang left their villages and migrated east to the forests and hills to try to escape the Muslims. The Hajang are classified a Scheduled Caste so they are eligible for public jobs and special university admissions. Most Hajang are illiterate or functionally illiterate.

The primary language of the Hajang is Bengali. Many also speak Assamese. Many Christian resources are available in both languages.


Where Are they Located?

The Hajang Banai live in northeast India and Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The main crop of the Hajang farmers is rice. They also grow potatoes, millet, lentils, wheat, and vegetables in small plots of land they own. Many Hajang also raise goats, buffalos, pigs and chickens.

The Hajang marry within their group but not within their particular clan. Families arrange most marriages with the groom's family paying a bride price to her family. The Hajang women weave blankets and make embroidered clothing, which they sell at weekly markets. Village elders settle legal issues and deal with outsiders. Most Hajang villages are without electricity and indoor plumbing.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Hajang practice folk religion and Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. The Goddess Banai is one of the wives of Shiva who gets special devotion from the Hajang. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Hajang visit Hindu shrines 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 many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Hajang people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama.


What Are Their Needs?

Solar panels could help bring electricity to Hajang villages. The Hajang would benefit by the introduction of modern medicine. The Hajang need help in educating their children. Most of all, the Hajang need to hear and understand the message of Jesus Christ who alone can forgive their sins and get them right with the one, true God.


Prayer Points

Pray for a movement to Jesus to multiply among Hajang households.
Pray that God will overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of His Gospel among the Hajang people.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Hajang people love for God's Word and a desire to spread its influence.


Scripture Prayers for the Hajang Banai in India.


References

https://www.ethnologue.com/language/haj
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajong_people


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Hajang Banai
People Name in Country Hajang Banai
Natural Name Banai Hajang
Alternate Names हजंग बनाई
Population this Country 5,900
Population all Countries 5,900
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 21138
ROP3 Code 117959
ROP25 Code 302932
ROP25 Name Hajang Banai
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
Meghalaya
5,500
Assam
400
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
  Meghalaya 5,500
  Assam 400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.99 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.82 %
Islam
0.18 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (3,800 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Assamese
600
Hajong
300
Hindi
200
Garo
10
Primary Language Bengali (3,800 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Assamese 600
  Hajong 300
  Hindi 200
  Garo 10
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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 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 Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali Jesus Film Project
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 World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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
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 Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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