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.

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  

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 1,710,000
Population all Countries 1,871,000
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
ROP25 Code 302955
ROP25 Name Halwai
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
633,000
West Bengal
539,000
Uttar Pradesh
372,000
Jharkhand
134,000
Madhya Pradesh
7,000
Odisha
6,500
Chhattisgarh
5,700
Maharashtra
4,100
Uttarakhand
2,100
Andaman and Nicobar
1,700
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 633,000
  West Bengal 539,000
  Uttar Pradesh 372,000
  Jharkhand 134,000
  Madhya Pradesh 7,000
  Odisha 6,500
  Chhattisgarh 5,700
  Maharashtra 4,100
  Uttarakhand 2,100
  Andaman and Nicobar 1,700
  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 (694,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 19
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bengali
430,000
Maithili
110,000
Bhojpuri
93,000
Awadhi
51,000
Magahi
25,000
Kanauji
11,000
Angika
7,000
Odia
3,900
Bundeli
3,600
Chhattisgarhi
3,000
Marathi
400
Garhwali
200
Andaman Hindi Creole
200
Nimadi
100
Telugu
80
Primary Language Hindi (694,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 19
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bengali 430,000
  Maithili 110,000
  Bhojpuri 93,000
  Awadhi 51,000
  Magahi 25,000
  Kanauji 11,000
  Angika 7,000
  Odia 3,900
  Bundeli 3,600
  Chhattisgarhi 3,000
  Marathi 400
  Garhwali 200
  Andaman Hindi Creole 200
  Nimadi 100
  Telugu 80
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)
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Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
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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.



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