The word Beldar is derived from two words; "bel" meaning a digging instrument, and "dar" referring to the person who handles it. They are associated with digging and carrying soil in the context of agriculture. Though fewer in number, there are Beldars who are engaged in animal husbandry, small business, industrial work, and unskilled labor.
The Beldar people have their own folk songs and folk-tales. Though they speak in the Baghelkandi dialect at home, most of them also speak Hindi.
Population figures for this Hindu group fluxuates from five figures to almost 2 million. They perceive themselves as part of the low Shudra caste, and others perceive them as being in this category as well. After cremating their dead, they worship the deceased's spirit a year later. There are only about 100 Christ-followers in this people group that lives mainly in Madhya Pradesh, but some live in Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal.
* Scripture Prayers for the Beldar (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh.
* Pray for Indian missionaries to produce stories and songs in the Beldar traditions that will lead them to seek Jesus Christ.
* Pray for them to have easy access to materials in the Hindi language.
Some information from "The Scheduled Castes" K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)
Profile Source: Global Prayer Digest |
People Name General | Beldar (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Beldar (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | BEL-dar |
Population this Country | 8,800 |
Population all Countries | 1,904,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Bachgotra; Bailwar; Bentkar; Bhujan; Bhujwa; Bilwar; Bunkar; Cetti; Changar; Chauhan; Chetti; Chunar; Chunara; Chunari; Chuncha; Chundollu; Chungar; Chuniyara; Gavandi; Goundi; Govandi; Kannada Balija Naickar; Kannada Naickar; Kannada Naicker; Kannadiya Naicker; Kannadiyar; Karpoora Chetti; Kattautia; Kerebandiyavaru; Lonari; Londhari; Lonia; Lonkar; Lonmali; Lunia; Matadi; Melusakkare; MelusakkareSagara; Melusakkareyavaru; Memar; Mila; Nunari; Nunia; Nuniya Beldar; Nuri; Odavandlu; Rai; Roy; Sagar; Sagara; Sagaravanshadavara; Sagarollu; Sagarvanshadavaru; Sagra; Sonkari; Sunga; Sunkar; Sunkaravandlu; Tamuli; Toreya; Unar; Upasara; Uplan; Uppaliga; Uppaliga Shetti; Uppaligashetty; Uppara; Uppari; Uppilara Naicker; Uppilia; Uppilia Naicker; Uppiliar; Uppiliga Naicker; Uppiliyan; Vethalaikaran; बेलदर (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 16375 |
ROP3 Code | 111517 |
Country | Bangladesh | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | 38 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||
Total States on file | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
|
||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | Bangladesh |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 38 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 5 |
Dhaka 5,300 | |
Rangpur 2,400 | |
Sylhet 900 | |
Rajshahi 200 | |
Khulna 90 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Bengali (7,300 speakers) | |||
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bengali (7,300 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Sylheti 700 | |
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 (1832-2016) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament - Bangla Version (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament - Mussolmani Version (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament- Common Version (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Bengali |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Following Jesus (India, JF Project) |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Bengali |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Rivka (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 3 - Woman at the Well |
Film / Video | The Savior 8 - Jesus is Risen |
General | Bible Visuals |
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 Bangladesh census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Global Prayer Digest |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |