Habura in India

The Habura have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian *
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Habura people are found primarily in northern India, especially in parts of Uttar Pradesh and neighboring regions. They have historically been associated with itinerant lifestyles, small-scale trading, entertainment, animal handling, and other forms of seasonal or informal labor. Their primary language is generally Hindi or regional dialects spoken in the areas where they live. Information about the Habura community is limited, but they are recognized as a distinct social group with longstanding roots in northern Indian society.

Historically, many Habura families lived as semi-nomadic communities, moving between villages and towns in search of work and trade opportunities. Because of their mobility and low social standing within the caste structure, they often faced suspicion, marginalization, and economic hardship. Over time, some Habura families settled more permanently in villages or urban outskirts, though poverty and unstable employment continue to affect many communities.

Their history reflects generations of adaptation to difficult social and economic conditions while maintaining close family ties and community identity. Traditional customs, oral heritage, and local cultural practices continue to shape life among the Habura people today.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Many Habura families live in poor rural settlements or on the edges of towns and cities where employment opportunities are limited. Men may work as laborers, street vendors, transport workers, scrap collectors, or seasonal agricultural workers, while women often contribute through household labor, small trade activities, or informal work. Income is frequently unstable, and many families struggle with financial insecurity.

Family relationships are central within the Habura community. Extended families commonly remain closely connected, and marriages are usually arranged within the group. Daily life often revolves around finding work, caring for children, maintaining family responsibilities, and participating in community gatherings and local festivals. Meals generally include wheat breads, rice, lentils, vegetables, and inexpensive local foods depending on availability and income.

Access to education, healthcare, sanitation, and stable housing can be limited in poorer Habura communities. Younger generations increasingly seek work in larger towns and cities, though many still maintain strong cultural and family ties to their community heritage.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Habura are primarily Hindu and participate in religious traditions commonly practiced in northern India. Religious life may include devotion to Hindu gods and goddesses, observance of festivals, household rituals, temple visits, and ceremonies connected to family events and community traditions.

Alongside mainstream Hindu practices, many Habura families may also retain folk religious customs involving local spirits, ancestral reverence, blessings, protective rituals, charms, and healing practices tied to village traditions. Religious identity is often deeply connected to family history and community belonging.

Very few Habura have had meaningful exposure to biblical Christianity or a clear presentation of the gospel. In many places, there is little ongoing Christian witness or access to biblical teaching within their own cultural and linguistic setting.


What Are Their Needs?

The Habura people face serious practical and spiritual needs. Many families continue to struggle with poverty, unstable employment, low literacy levels, poor healthcare access, and social marginalization. Children in poorer settlements may have limited access to consistent education, and some communities continue to experience discrimination connected to their social status and historical background.

Spiritually, the Habura remain largely unreached with the gospel. There is a need for compassionate Christian workers willing to build long-term relationships, serve practical needs, and faithfully communicate biblical truth with humility and patience. Strong local churches and discipleship efforts are needed so that those who come to faith can grow spiritually and share the gospel with others in their community.

Practical ministries involving literacy programs, vocational training, healthcare outreach, family support, and education assistance can help address real-life needs while opening doors for meaningful gospel witness among the Habura people.


Prayer Items

Pray that the Habura people would hear the gospel clearly and come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Pray for Christian workers to serve among the Habura with humility, wisdom, compassion, and perseverance.
Pray that the Habura people would be adopted through the People Group Adoption program so that ongoing prayer, outreach, discipleship, and future gospel engagement would continue among them.
Pray that believers in northern India would faithfully share the truth of Christ with the Habura and demonstrate His love through practical service and godly lives.


Scripture Prayers for the Habura in India.


References

https://www.peoplegroups.org/explore/GroupDetails.aspx?peid=45710
https://censusindia.gov.in
https://www.britannica.com/topic/caste-social-differentiation-India
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomads_of_India


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Habura
People Name in Country Habura
Alternate Names Habbu; Sansaiya; हबूरा
Population this Country 7,600
Population all Countries 7,600
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale Progress Gauge
Unreached Yes
Frontier Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16895
ROP3 Code 112182
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 12  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 4
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
6,300
Uttarakhand
900
Madhya Pradesh
300
Karnataka
80
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 12  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 4
  Uttar Pradesh 6,300
  Uttarakhand 900
  Madhya Pradesh 300
  Karnataka 80
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Estimated Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.95 %
Islam
0.00 %
Judaism
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.05 %
Sikhism
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (6,000 speakers)
Ethnologue Language Code hin
Ethnologue Language Familly Indo-European
Glottolog Language Family Indo-European
Written / Published Yes   (ScriptSource Listing)
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Kanauji
500
Braj Bhasha
100
Bhojpuri
60
Konkani, Goan
50
Konkani
30
Garhwali
Primary Language Hindi (6,000 speakers)
Ethnologue Language Code hin
Ethnologue Language Familly Indo-European
Glottolog Language Family Indo-European
Written / Published Yes   (ScriptSource Listing)
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Kanauji 500
  Braj Bhasha 100
  Bhojpuri 60
  Konkani, Goan 50
  Konkani 30
  Garhwali 10

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2026)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video 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 Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Tetelestai:  Creation to Christ Light in Action
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Productions
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible Study Helper app Bible Study Helper
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Hindi) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
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 direct APK download (Hindi) SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bibles India Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gospel Films (South Asia) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Hindi Bible (हिंदी बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Word General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sab Ki Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: पवित्र बाइबिल Hindi Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Hindi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta (Bible training) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Hindi (Bible training) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: JM Hindi General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Hindi) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Children's Bible app Bible4Kidz
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi Unlocked Literal Bible Kalaam Media Ltd
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Hindi Bible General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter tools for gospel conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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.