Hindu Valmiki in Nepal


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Valmiki are also called Balmiki. They are a caste of street sweepers with low status. Though most live in India, there are also Valmiki communities in Bangladesh and Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Valmiki people face discrimination from a young age. At school their children are given derisive names. They are treated like they cannot learn by public school teachers. Those who work in parks clean things up, then take a stroll in the park only to be told to leave either by high caste members or by the police. If they resist, the police will beat them. Valmiki women are sexually abused by high caste men. There is nothing they can do about it.
Since the root of these problems is in the Hindu based caste system, some Valmiki have changed to a different religion. Most commonly they become Buddhist, but others have adopted Islam or Sikhism.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most, however, remain Hindu. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.
Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Valmiki people need to put their trust and identity in the hands of the loving God of Creation who sent his son to make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Hindu Valmiki people in Nepal to have the justice they need.
Pray for them to find their identity and sense of worth in the God who gave them life, and the savior who offers them life to the full.
Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Valmiki people.
Pray God will have mercy on the Valmiki, doing whatever it takes to place them in a position to receive him.
Ask God to open the hearts of the Hindu Valmiki in Nepal to the gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Valmiki (Hindu traditions) in Nepal.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmiki_caste


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Valmiki (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Valmiki (Hindu traditions)
Natural Name Hindu Valmiki
Pronunciation wahl-MEE-kee
Alternate Names Balmik; Balmiki; Bhangi; Byada; Churhra; Hair; Hari; Malkana Mehtar; Mehtar; Mehtor
Population this Country 6,600
Population all Countries 5,654,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 22348
ROP3 Code 119347
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 11
Largest States
Lumbini
1,500
Bheri
1,300
Seti
1,200
Mahakali
800
Bagmati
500
Sagarmatha
400
Janakpur
300
Kosi
200
Narayani
200
Gandaki
100
Rapti
100
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 11
  Lumbini 1,500
  Bheri 1,300
  Seti 1,200
  Mahakali 800
  Bagmati 500
  Sagarmatha 400
  Janakpur 300
  Kosi 200
  Narayani 200
  Gandaki 100
  Rapti 100
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 Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Awadhi (1,900 speakers)
Language Code awa   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Maithili
1,100
Nepali
800
Bhojpuri
800
Hindi
500
Kumaoni
300
Dotyali
300
Primary Language Awadhi (1,900 speakers)
Language Code awa   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Maithili 1,100
  Nepali 800
  Bhojpuri 800
  Hindi 500
  Kumaoni 300
  Dotyali 300
People Groups Speaking Awadhi

Primary Language:  Awadhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1820-1911)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1996)
Bible-Complete Yes  (2000-2005)
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Photo Source Copyrighted © 2025  Aathi94 - Shutterstock  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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