Kaibartta in Bhutan


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

Introduction / History

The Kaibartta probably migrated from Burma and China to their current locations in India and Bangladesh around 2000 B.C. From earliest days the Kaibartta have been known as fishermen. Even their name may have come from "Ka" (meaning water) and "vrit" (exist) or varta (livelihood).


Where Are they Located?

These are a people found throughout West Bengal, Bangladesh and a few live in Bhutan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The literacy rate of these Hindu fishermen is very low. They chew betel nuts, smoke beedis and cigarettes. Women do not participate in socio-religious or political activities. When there is a dispute, elderly men meet in the community hall to settle the matter.
Most of them fish for a living. They have low status in Hindu communities, but the caste system is weaker in Bhutan where there is a much stronger Buddhist influence.

Kaibartta enjoy festive dances. The Chaiti Ghoda Naacha dance is a dance honoring Vasuli Devi, their primary Hindu god. It is the people's most favorite and famous dance. One male and one female dress in colorful attire and sing and dance around a wooden or bamboo horse, which is an idol of Vasuli Devi.

Another dance that is near to the affections of the Kaibartta is the Chaiti Parva, a dance that worships boats. The Kaibartta enjoy this dance so much because it does not require the presence of a Brahmin priest to perform.


Underneath the veneer of Hinduism, the Kaibartta believe in the existence of spirits and, therefore, are rightly considered by some to be animists.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kaibartta are a Hindu people. They recognize the existence of the Hindu gods, and even lay claim to one - Vasuli Devi - as their primary Hindu god, paying their homage to him every April in a dance called "Chaiti Ghoda Naacha." Yet, underneath the veneer of Hinduism, the Kaibartta also believe in the existence of spirits, and therefore, are rightly considered by some to be animists.

The Kaibartta are more fervent for animism than for Hinduism, and therefore, are not orthodox Hindus. Yet, their fervency for Vasuli Devi as well as other spirits ought to suggest, again, that the presentation of the gospel ought to begin with a recognition of spirits and an introduction to the Supreme God over these spirits.

Kaibartta folklore tells of a story about how the supreme god made man out of the dirt of his ear; man is subsequently saved by this god from a gigantic fish. Afterwards, the Kaibartta were given a goddess horse to be the primary deity, and the horse died! Only through worshiping this goddess do the Kaibartta believe they can receive salvation.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kaibartta in Bhutan struggle with illiteracy and a need for more community solidity. The majority of the Kaibartta are illiterate.


Prayer Points

Ask the God of the Universe to reveal himself to the Kaibartta fishermen.
Pray for this fishing community to see the value of worshipping only the one true God.
Ask the Holy Spirit to dispel the darkness of unbelief in this fishing community.
Pray for a disciple-making movement to flourish among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Kaibartta in Bhutan.


References

(info is only about other countries, but some of it applies to them everywhere)
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/Hindu-Kaibartta-People-in-Bangladesh/
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2873/
http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol.%2021%20Issue4/Version-1/H2104015158.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalia_Kaibarta
http://www.livedead.org/2015/06/07/upg-the-kaibartta-of-india/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Kaibartta
People Name in Country Kaibartta
Pronunciation kai-BAR-tah
Alternate Names Adi Kaibartta; Bamunia; Ghunnya; Haridhania; Jala Kaibartta; Jali; Jalia; Jalia Kaibarta; Jalia Kaibartta; Jaliya; Jele; Kaibaratta; Kaibarta; Nadial; Shudra Das; Shudradas; Sudra Das; Tutia; कैबरतता
Population this Country 1,200
Population all Countries 1,888,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17016
ROP3 Code 112347
ROP25 Code 303492
ROP25 Name Kaibartta / Kaibarta
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Eastern
600
Southern
300
Western
300
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Eastern 600
  Southern 300
  Western 300
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 Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Assamese
Language Code asm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Bengali Hindi
Primary Language Assamese
Language Code asm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Bengali
  Hindi
People Groups Speaking Assamese

Primary Language:  Assamese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1822-1974)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1819-1993)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1833-2022)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
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 Assamese Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Assamese YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download Bible from Google Play Store Operation Agape
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Assamese YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Assamese Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Online New Testament (Bibles India) Operation Agape
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Matt Hahnewald - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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