Pahari in Nepal

The Pahari have only been reported in Nepal
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Pahari people of Nepal, whose native language is Pahari, live in the central hill areas of Nepal. The largest Pahari populations are found in the hilly areas of Central Lalitpur and Central/Northeast Kavre districts at an altitude ranging around 5200 feet, generally along the ridgeline. Some settlements can be found in the lower regions of Rautahat and Makwanpur districts at altitudes of about 640 feet.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Pahari language and culture is closely related to that of the Newar people. Pahari communities are usually found within larger villages consisting of multiple people groups and are therefore a multilingual society. Of the Pahari people in Nepal only 25% speak their mother tongue of Pahari. Although Pahari people generally think positively of their mother tongue, it is becoming less common for Pahari to be transmitted to the youngest generations since they see greater value in Nepali fluency as it is the language of education and trade.
Traditional Pahari homes are typically made of mud and cow dung, though homes are now being built with cement. It is common for three generations to live under one roof, with the wife moving into her husband’s family home. Most homes have electricity (often solar), TV and radio. Most families have access to a water pump. However, because they live on ridgelines, some have issues with wells running dry. Water treatment is generally required. Food includes 2-3 meals a day of rice and lentil sauce with curried vegetables.
Traditionally, Pahari people worked as farmers and weavers of baskets and rugs. Today, most Pahari people farm their own fields growing rice and vegetables, while a few continue to make and sell woven products. It is becoming increasingly common for Pahari people living in the Kathmandu area to commute to the city by public bus or privately owned motorcycle.
Pahari tend to live in multi-ethnic villages and therefore have historically been bilingual or multilingual in Pahari, Nepali and other regional languages. Adults 25 years and older speak Pahari and Nepali. School is taught in Nepali and therefore Pahari children usually learn Nepali as their mother tongue.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Pahari church is growing in some villages. In Lalitpur, 10-20% of the Pahari population is Christian. In the lower elevation Pahari settlements, about 40% of the Pahari population reports to be Christian.


What Are Their Needs?

Christian Pahari people attend multi-ethnic churches in which the language of worship, prayer, and scripture is in Nepali. There is no scripture available in Pahari. Although there has been no request for translation of the scriptures, some Pahari individuals have indicated interest in oral Bible stories.
National missionaries have been active in Pahari communities in the past decades and Pahari Christians also evangelize their own communities. Cross-cultural missionaries are needed to encourage the Pahari church and help with Bible schooling and pastoral training.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead the Pahari people to seek and find the Living God.
Pray for Pahari disciples who will make more disciples.
Pray for dedicated workers.


Scripture Prayers for the Pahari in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Pahari
People Name in Country Pahari
Alternate Names पाहरी
Population this Country 16,000
Population all Countries 16,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19418
ROP3 Code 115804
ROP25 Code 306417
ROP25 Name Pahari
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 12
Largest States
Bagmati
11,000
Narayani
2,200
Janakpur
2,000
Seti
100
Mahakali
100
Sagarmatha
90
Karnali
70
Kosi
50
Bheri
50
Mechi
30
Rapti
20
Gandaki
20
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 12
  Bagmati 11,000
  Narayani 2,200
  Janakpur 2,000
  Seti 100
  Mahakali 100
  Sagarmatha 90
  Karnali 70
  Kosi 50
  Bheri 50
  Mechi 30
  Rapti 20
  Gandaki 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
22.43 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.52 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
70.76 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.23 %
Unknown
4.06 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nepali (10,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Newar
3,600
Dotyali
100
Wambule
100
Primary Language Nepali (10,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Newar 3,600
  Dotyali 100
  Wambule 100
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2012)
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 Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali Jesus Film Project
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 New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
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 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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.



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