Bhat (Hindu traditions) in Nepal


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Bhat are known for phakra (speaking poetically in praise of others). The Bhat are an offshoot of Brahmins, as their name is merely a corruption of the term Brahmin.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bhat shun manual work. They are mainly a landowning community. They work in temples as priests who sometimes read the Bhagat and Puranas. They worship Tusu and Bhadu and local deities such as Kudra. Literacy is very low among the Bhat, particularly among women.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bhat people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples 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 other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.
Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bhat community speaks over 40 languages. Evangelistic and church planting efforts need to accommodate these language subdivisions. The low literacy rate suggests the need for oral communication of the gospel message. Christian workers can carry the good news of Jesus to the Bhat community using gospel films and recordings in the various languages spoken by the community.


Prayer Points

There may be no followers of Christ today among the Hindu Bhat but pray for those the Lord will soon call to himself. Pray they will live a life worthy of their calling in Christ.
Pray also for the availability of resources such as scripture and gospel recordings.
Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Bhat families and clans into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray each individual in the Bhat community who is capable of making a decision about Christ will be given at least one opportunity to do so.
Pray the message will be in the mother tongue of the individual and will be clearly presented.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhat (Hindu traditions) in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bhat (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Bhat (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation buh-HAHT
Alternate Names Baghmundi; Bahi Bhati; Bahrot; Baram Bhatt; Batera; Battera; Batterha; Bhaat; Bhaot; Bhat; Bhat Brahman; Bhat Brahmin; Bhata; Bhatra; Bhatraju; Bhatrazu; Bhatrose; Bhats; Bhatta Goswami; Bhatu; Biram Bhatt; Bohrot; Brahm Bhatt; Brahma Bhat; Brahmabhat; Brahmabhatta; Brahmbhatt; Chara; Charan; Chare; Dabaut; Darpi; Dasund; Digpal; Jaga; Jagabhat; Jagawa; Jasondhi; Jathikirthulu; Jyotshi; Kanjar; Karvan Bhat; Kavi; Kavi Brahman; Kavi Brahmin; Maru; Mary; Naik; Panchakat; Rai; Rai Bhatt; Raj Bhat; Raju; Ramavat; Ramiya; Ramiya Rathor; Ran; Rana; Rao; Rathor; Rathore; Rau; Salui; Salvi; Sivachandi; Sotiya; Swali; Takur; Thakur; भाट (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 900
Population all Countries 1,681,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16406
ROP3 Code 111555
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 6
Largest States
Janakpur
300
Lumbini
200
Bagmati
200
Bheri
100
Sagarmatha
90
Narayani
70
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 6
  Janakpur 300
  Lumbini 200
  Bagmati 200
  Bheri 100
  Sagarmatha 90
  Narayani 70
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 Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (300 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Awadhi
200
Bhojpuri
200
Hindi
100
Marwari
40
Primary Language Maithili (300 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Awadhi 200
  Bhojpuri 200
  Hindi 100
  Marwari 40
People Groups Speaking Maithili

Primary Language:  Maithili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010)
Bible-Complete No
Bible-NT Audio 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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio 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 Maithili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime 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, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Maithili Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
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 Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.