The name "Dharkar" comes from dhar, meaning rope or cane making. The name fits the people; they have always made bamboo and rope products such as baskets that they sell in the markets. Like many communities, they often use "Dharkar" as a family surname as well as the name of their group.
Most live in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, but a small number are in Nepal.
The Dharkars are more likely to practice child marriage than most other scheduled caste communities. However, they are much like other communities in that their marriages are arranged by their families. Each marriage is a joining of two families more than it is a joining of two individuals. They are much stricter about divorce than other Hindu communities.
Dharkar women are very active in household jobs, and they play a major role in ritual and economic activities. They contribute to the family income. Because their children are usually wage laborers, their literacy rate remains low.
They worship their village deity, Deohar, and many Hindu gods like Hannaman (the monkey god), Vishnu and various spiritual powers. They speak Awadhi at home. When they have the chance, the Dharkar people listen to the radio and TV.
The Dharkar people live mainly in Uttar Pradesh, one of India’s most gospel poor states. There are very few nearby peoples who love the Lord. They speak Hindi, a language that has many gospel materials they can respond to.
Pray for excellent Christian materials like gospel recordings to be produced and widely distributed among the Dharkar people.
Pray for radio broadcasts that will address their spiritual need to be joined with Jesus.
Pray that as they encounter Jesus that their traditional gods will become a thing of the past.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will give them a willingness to seek and find the only savior.
Scripture Prayers for the Dharkar in Nepal.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Dharkar |
People Name in Country | Dharkar |
Alternate Names | Basor Bhakt; Bentbansi; Dharki; Dhirkar; Dom; Supa Bhakt; धारकर |
Population this Country | 3,100 |
Population all Countries | 167,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 16713 |
ROP3 Code | 111949 |
ROP25 Code | 302061 |
ROP25 Name | Dharkar |
Country | Nepal | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||||||
Location in Country | Kapilbastu District of Lumbini Zone, and Banke and Bardiya districts of Bheri Zone. Source: www.ethnologue.com | ||||||
Total States on file | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Kapilbastu District of Lumbini Zone, and Banke and Bardiya districts of Bheri Zone.. Source: www.ethnologue.com |
Total States | 5 |
Lumbini 1,900 | |
Janakpur 900 | |
Narayani 200 | |
Sagarmatha 60 | |
Bheri 30 | |
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 | Bhojpuri (1,500 speakers) | |||
Language Code | bho Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 4 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bhojpuri (1,500 speakers) |
Language Code | bho Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 4 |
Secondary Languages | |
Maithili 600 | |
Nepali 400 | |
Awadhi 200 | |
People Groups | Speaking Bhojpuri |
Primary Language: Bhojpuri
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1911-1982) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1998-2007) |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Copyrighted © 2024 Michael E All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |