Introduction / History

According to their traditional beliefs, the Bhogta people emerged from a union of religious preachers and tribal women. The children from these unions became the Bhogta people, most of whom now live in India's eastern states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bihar. There are over 250,000 of them.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bhogta people are a scheduled caste (Dalit) according to "The Scheduled Castes." Yet they claim status as Kshatrya status (second highest caste grouping), and even wear the sacred thread reserved for high caste Hindus. They seem to have higher status than most scheduled castes. Brahmins perform their marriage rituals, something they will not do for just any scheduled caste.
The Bhogta people were traditionally farmers, though they also made rope, cots, and parched rice for a living. Today some of them are day-laborers on tea plantations, while others work in private and government services.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bhogta people are 100 percent Hindu. They worship their ancestors and family deities.

What Are Their Needs?

This predominantly rural community has an exceptionally low literacy rate, but they are very fond of listening to the radio.

Prayer Points

* Pray for believers to develop special radio broadcasts for the Bhogta people.
* Pray for believers to also provide ways for the Bhogta people to obtain small business loans so they can find a way out of being day laborers.
* May God be glorified, and His Kingdom extended among the Bhogta people.

References

Some information from "The Scheduled Castes" K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)