Baiswar in India

The Baiswar have only been reported 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

India is a complex mosaic of ethnic, linguistic, religious, and social groupings. Because of this diversity, it is extremely difficult to adequately describe any single people group.

India may be divided into four main regions: the Himalayas, the northern river-plains region, the Deccan Plateau, and the Eastern and Western Ghat Mountains. Because of numerous geographical features, climatic conditions are also widely diversified on both a seasonal and regional basis, ranging from tropical to temperate extremes.

In the midst of this complexity can be found the Awadhi Baiswari. They are located predominantly in the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur, and Dekhi. Their language is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of India's population lives in rural areas and is engaged in some form of agriculture. Many are farmers who barely grow enough to survive. Farms are extremely small and often very fragmented. The raising of livestock, particularly horned cattle, buffalo, horses, and mules, is a central feature of the economy. Because of Hindu influence, however, these animals are used almost exclusively as beasts of burden rather than sources of meat.

Uttar Pradesh, where many Awadhi live, contains four of the seven holy cities of Hinduism: Haridwar, Mathura, Varanasi, and Ayodhya. Ayodhya is believed by many Hindus to be the birthplace of Rama, the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu (preserver of the universe). Other Awadhi live in Bihar, an agricultural state. Their chief crops are barley, maize, rice, sugarcane, and wheat.

Indian culture is primarily Hindu-oriented. Many Hindu institutions, including the rigid caste system, have wide-ranging effects on Indian society. The word "caste" basically means breed, race, or kind. Indian society is divided into hierarchical castes which are usually endogamous (marriage only within the caste). Castes may be defined by occupation or by kinship and lineage, but there are exceptions. Nevertheless, the caste is so fundamental to the social organization of India that it prevails in all parts except some of the tribal populations. Not enough is known about the Awadhi to accurately place them in the caste system; thus, their particular lifestyle cannot be adequately described.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Awadhi Baiswari are largely Hindu and follow basic Hindu customs and traditions. The term "Hinduism" came into use about 1200 A.D., but clearly identifying what Hindus believe is difficult. The religion has no founder, no prophet, and no instructional structure. It is a way of living much more than a theology; it is a philosophy more than a religion. Contrary to popular belief in the West, Hinduism is not an ancient, fixed set of beliefs. It is, rather, a body of customs, practices, and beliefs that go through major changes every few hundred years.

The majority, but not all, of Hindus believe in a supreme being. Some respect all life and eat only vegetables, while others will gladly eat meat from sacrifices in the temple. To some, their religion is highly personal; to others, it is impersonal. While most Hindus worship Brahman (the creator of the universe), Shiva (its destroyer), Vishnu (its preserver), and the goddess Shaktri, they also worship a pantheon of other minor gods, their incarnations, spouses, or offspring. A belief in reincarnation (continual cycle of death and rebirth) is one of the few unifying features of Hinduism.


What Are Their Needs?

Being one of the major language groups, the Awadhi do have the Bible and the Jesus film available in their own language. However, few have become Christian. The believers need discipleship materials to encourage and strengthen them in their Christian walk. Intercession and missions efforts are still necessities for reaching the Awadhi with the Gospel.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to work among the Awadhi Baiswari of India.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give creative ideas for evangelism to missions agencies focusing on the Awadhi.
Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Awadhi, with many conversions resulting.
Pray that God will use the Awadhi believers to minister the love of Jesus to their own people.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a vigorous Awadhi Baiswari church for the glory of His name!


Scripture Prayers for the Baiswar in India.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Baiswar
People Name in Country Baiswar
Alternate Names बासवर
Population this Country 103,000
Population all Countries 103,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 16299
ROP3 Code 111426
ROP25 Code 300724
ROP25 Name Baiswar
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 3
Largest States
Madhya Pradesh
82,000
Uttar Pradesh
22,000
Uttarakhand
200
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 3
  Madhya Pradesh 82,000
  Uttar Pradesh 22,000
  Uttarakhand 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.98 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (76,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Bagheli
4,800
Chhattisgarhi
3,100
Bhojpuri
2,000
Bundeli
500
Awadhi
300
Kanauji
200
Garhwali
90
Kumaoni
Primary Language Hindi (76,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Bagheli 4,800
  Chhattisgarhi 3,100
  Bhojpuri 2,000
  Bundeli 500
  Awadhi 300
  Kanauji 200
  Garhwali 90
  Kumaoni 10
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)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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