Birhor in India


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

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Introduction / History

The name "Birhor" suggests, "men of the forest." Their lives revolve entirely around forests. These dark-skinned, short-statured, long-headed, wavy-haired and broad-nosed people belong to the Mundari group of tribes.


Where Are they Located?

They are found mainly in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa. The Birhor population in all three states put together is relatively small and is declining with disappearing forests.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Originally hunters, the Birhors, also known as Mankidias, live entirely on forest produce. They love to eat monkey meat and are extremely skilled in trapping any animal. Trapping rabbits, weaving ropes, selling a few baskets when they can, the Birhors seem to live in a different age.

It is only recently that they have started rope-making as their main economic activity. Their need for rice is met through buying it from others in the area, in exchange for forest products.

The government made huge efforts to settle them, but except for one or two settlements, other Birhors are always on the move.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are nomadic, moving from one place in the forest to another, setting up their places of worship as they go to a new place. The Birhor follow a mixture of animism and Hinduism. The sun god and ancestral family spirits rank very high in their religion. Due to contacts with Hindu neighbours, they have added some more gods into their list.

Birhors believe that the whole universe is created and presided over by Sing Bonga, the sun god and his wife. Christian ministry has been difficult due to their nomadic nature. Yet there are a few Birhor settlements where there are a few Christians.


What Are Their Needs?

Their birth rate is low and their death rate is high, dwindling their population as the years go by. Most of them are addicted to alcohol. They would like to send their children to school, but cannot afford it. Malnutrition is written across their faces, especially among children.

The Birhor literacy rate is very low and as a result, they fall an easy prey to those who exploit them. Literacy initiatives, hand in hand with Bible translation can bring about a transformation in their lives. They need God's Word in the language that speak to their hearts so that they can understand the love of the Almighty God.


Prayer Points

Pray for God to break the spiritual and physical bondages that keep the Birhors in poverty, superstitions, ill health etc.
Pray for the Birhors who have received the light of the gospel to share effectively with other Birhors.
Pray for God to raise up Christian ministers to work among the Birhor in a culturally appropriate way.
Pray for a mother tongue translation team to be trained well and translate the Scripture into Birhor.


Scripture Prayers for the Birhor in India.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  
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Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2008-10-11
People Name General Birhor
People Name in Country Birhor
Alternate Names Birhul; Burlur; Manki; Mankidi; Mankirdia; बिरहोर
Population this Country 25,000
Population all Countries 26,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 16461
ROP3 Code 111625
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 9
Largest States
Jharkhand
13,000
Assam
3,700
Chhattisgarh
3,300
West Bengal
2,700
Odisha
1,000
Bihar
500
Maharashtra
300
Madhya Pradesh
200
Tripura
60
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 9
  Jharkhand 13,000
  Assam 3,700
  Chhattisgarh 3,300
  West Bengal 2,700
  Odisha 1,000
  Bihar 500
  Maharashtra 300
  Madhya Pradesh 200
  Tripura 60
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.09 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
5.63 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
83.59 %
Islam
0.42 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.16 %
Unknown
10.11 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Birhor (7,300 speakers)
Language Code biy   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 20
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
3,500
Assamese
2,100
Bengali
1,900
Santhali
1,800
Mundari
800
Chhattisgarhi
600
Ho
600
Sadri
400
Oriya, Adivasi
400
Odia
300
Marathi
200
Munda
200
Nepali
70
Bhili
70
Maithili
60
Primary Language Birhor (7,300 speakers)
Language Code biy   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 20
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 3,500
  Assamese 2,100
  Bengali 1,900
  Santhali 1,800
  Mundari 800
  Chhattisgarhi 600
  Ho 600
  Sadri 400
  Oriya, Adivasi 400
  Odia 300
  Marathi 200
  Munda 200
  Nepali 70
  Bhili 70
  Maithili 60
People Groups Speaking Birhor

Primary Language:  Birhor

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.