Subgroups: 8
Subgroup Name | Population ▼ | |
---|---|---|
Bhogta | 30,000 | |
Rajbansi | 30,000 | |
Nakshedia | 29,000 | |
Lathaur | 26,000 | |
Angar | 11,000 | |
Bhumihar | 11,000 | |
Jhuintihar | 11,000 | |
Khorriar | 11,000 |
Most Rajwars are from a low class caste in northeast India, although those from Uttarakhand are from the Rajput community. They are a recognized Scheduled Caste, which means the Rajwar are eligible for special public jobs and college admissions. Since the Middle Ages, the Rajwar have served as soldiers in the armies of northeast India.
Today, most Rajwar work as landless farm laborers. Illiteracy is a major problem for them. Without a basic education there is little hope they can move beyond the mere subsistence level. Some educated young Rajwar have moved to the cities and taken jobs in factories and in public service. Unfortunately, many Rajwar still live in primitive conditions in rural villages without electricity or indoor plumbing.
The primary languages of Rajwar are Hindi, Bengali and Magahi. They also speak other regional languages.
The large majority of the Rajwar live in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and
West Bengal. Smaller groups of Rajwar live in other areas of India and in Bangladesh.
Poverty is a huge problem for the Rajwar people. Much of this issue has to do with their lack of education and Hindu religion. The low class castes "deserve" their low status due their sins in their previous lives according to the tenets of Hinduism. Even though they are Hindus, they are often denied entrance into Hindu temples and the services of Brahmin priests.
Most Rajwar live in villages without the blessings of modern life. They are endogamous, that is, they marry within their own group. Families arrange marriages, which are officiated by their priests not Brahmins. Sons inherit what little property a father may possess.
The Rajwar are not vegetarians. However, due to their economic condition, meat is reserved for special days. As Hindus, they will not eat beef. Their main foods are rice, wheat and vegetables.
The Rajwar cremate adults who die and buy dead children.
The Rajwar practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Since they cannot enter Hindu temples, they building their own shrines to their gods. The Rajwar offer food, flowers, prayers and incense to their gods. They believe that by performing rituals and living a good life, they can attain a better life in their next reincarnation. They also engage in folk religion to ward off evil spirits.
The Rajwar participate in the yearly Hindu holidays of Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the nine-day celebration of autumn.
The needs of the Rajwar people are great. Most of all they need to hear and believe the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. They need help in the education of adults and children. They need job training so they are break out of the cycle of poverty. They need to see that there is hope in Jesus.
Pray that Indian Christians would be moved to reach out and share the gospel with the gospel with the Rajwar.
Pray that the Rajwar will turn away from Hinduism and embrace the hope that only the God of the Bible can offer.
Pray that Bible-believing churches would begin in the Rajwar community.
Scripture Prayers for the Rajwar in India.
peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=41445
Profile Source: David Kugel |
People Name General | Rajwar |
People Name in Country | Rajwar |
Alternate Names | Rachawar; Rajaur; Rajhar; Rajjar; Rajjhar; Rujjar; Rujjhar; रजवार |
Population this Country | 727,000 |
Population all Countries | 737,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 15 |
People ID | 17934 |
ROP3 Code | 113422 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Rajwar |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Rajwar |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 8 |
Bhogta 30,000 | |
Rajbansi 30,000 | |
Nakshedia 29,000 | |
Lathaur 26,000 | |
Angar 11,000 | |
Bhumihar 11,000 | |
Jhuintihar 11,000 | |
Khorriar 11,000 |
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 | 17 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
|
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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 | 17 |
Bihar 336,000 | |
Jharkhand 231,000 | |
West Bengal 133,000 | |
Odisha 4,200 | |
Maharashtra 3,600 | |
Chhattisgarh 3,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 1,900 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 700 | |
Tripura 700 | |
Delhi 400 | |
Meghalaya 400 | |
Nagaland 200 | |
Uttar Pradesh 100 | |
Mizoram 100 | |
Uttarakhand 80 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.04 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.16 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.79 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.01 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Hindi (298,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 13 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (298,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 13 |
Secondary Languages | |
Magahi 116,000 | |
Bengali 109,000 | |
Bhojpuri 74,000 | |
Maithili 4,500 | |
Chhattisgarhi 2,500 | |
Odia 2,300 | |
Sadri 400 | |
Marathi 200 | |
Santhali 90 | |
Kumaoni 60 | |
Mundari 50 | |
Angika 30 | |
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 |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Copyrighted © 2023 Isudas All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | David Kugel |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |