Halwai (Hindu traditions) 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

Halwai people of India are a caste of sweet makers and confectioners. The name Halwai comes from the Hindi word "Halwa" which is a sweet.


Where Are they Located?

Many Halwai people live in Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are viewed with respect. Because of the importance sweets have in religion and socially, they have a special position in festivals, childbirths and marriages.

Sweet shops of Halwai grace towns and bazaars in north India. Some Halwai people are involved government, private work, engineering, medical, and agriculture. Their common language is Hindi.

They are mainly vegetarians, eating wheat, rice, fruit and vegetables. In Bihar, Halwai people eat chicken and mutton, but not beef. They enjoy milk and dairy produce, but not alcohol.

Halwai do not marry outside of their respective groups. They have one spouse. Divorce is permitted, and divorcees, and bereaved are permitted to remarry, and they practivce the tradition of dowry. They practice family planning and modern medicine.

They educate both boys and girls, which is unusual in India. Property is equally given to the sons. The oldest son becomes the leader in the home. Younger men often move away to begin businesses.

Most Halwai people are comfortable financially, and some are wealthy particularly in the cities and towns.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Halwai people are mostly Hindu. A Brahmin priest conducts birth, marriage and death ceremonies. The dead are cremated and the ashes immersed in a river, usually the Ganges. Post delivery child birth pollution and death pollution are observed for a given period of time They observe many pilgrimages and festivals.


What Are Their Needs?

They need to realize that Halwai wealth is temporary but Salvation through Jesus Christ is permanent.

Modernization is breaking down family units which have been the glue to society for many generations, and loneliness is increasingly a problem. They are expected to "achieve it all," but ironically, achieving it all can be empty.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christ to reveal Himself to Halwai leaders.
Pray for the eyes of hearts to be open to Jesus Christ as Lord and King.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Halwi community.
Pray for many to be prompted to faithfully pray for Halwai.


Scripture Prayers for the Halwai (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/halwai/


Profile Source:   Karen Hightower  
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Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2009-08-24
Global Prayer Digest: 2016-09-23
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-04-21
People Name General Halwai (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Halwai (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation hahl-WYE
Alternate Names Bhanti; Haluwai; Halwai; Madak; Maira; Mayara; Mehtar; Methaiwale; Modak; Modhunapit; हलवाई (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 1,678,000
Population all Countries 1,839,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 34
People ID 16905
ROP3 Code 112199
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 20
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Bihar
626,000
West Bengal
501,000
Uttar Pradesh
365,000
Jharkhand
129,000
Madhya Pradesh
6,900
Odisha
6,500
Chhattisgarh
5,700
Maharashtra
4,000
Uttarakhand
2,100
Andaman and Nicobar
1,600
Delhi
1,600
Meghalaya
1,000
Tripura
800
Nagaland
500
Mizoram
200
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 20
  Bihar 626,000
  West Bengal 501,000
  Uttar Pradesh 365,000
  Jharkhand 129,000
  Madhya Pradesh 6,900
  Odisha 6,500
  Chhattisgarh 5,700
  Maharashtra 4,000
  Uttarakhand 2,100
  Andaman and Nicobar 1,600
  Delhi 1,600
  Meghalaya 1,000
  Tripura 800
  Nagaland 500
  Mizoram 200
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (710,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 20
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bengali
386,000
Maithili
113,000
Bhojpuri
86,000
Awadhi
51,000
Magahi
24,000
Kanauji
11,000
Angika
7,000
Odia
3,900
Chhattisgarhi
3,000
Bagheli
2,700
Bundeli
900
Marathi
400
Garhwali
200
Andaman Hindi Creole
200
Nimadi
100
Primary Language Hindi (710,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 20
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bengali 386,000
  Maithili 113,000
  Bhojpuri 86,000
  Awadhi 51,000
  Magahi 24,000
  Kanauji 11,000
  Angika 7,000
  Odia 3,900
  Chhattisgarhi 3,000
  Bagheli 2,700
  Bundeli 900
  Marathi 400
  Garhwali 200
  Andaman Hindi Creole 200
  Nimadi 100
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
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 Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Rajesh Dangi - Wikipedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Karen Hightower 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.