Bharia Bhumia in India

People Name:	Bharia Bhumia
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	362,000
World Population:	362,000
Primary Language:	Hindi
Primary Religion:	Hinduism
Christian Adherents:	0.07 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Tribal - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Bharia Bhumia is a forest-dwelling scheduled tribe of Madhya Pradesh. They have various clans which regulate marriage alliances. Some of these clans are Bhardia, Bijaria, Amelia, Bagothia, Pachalia, Thakaria, and Mehania.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bharia are wage-earners, as most are landless. A part of their livelihood is derived from collecting and selling firewood. Some work as laborers for contractors, while a few work as rickshaw-pullers and errand boys. Some are engaged as sharecroppers. Their literacy rate is very low.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They worship deities like Hanuman. They also worship most of the Gond deities like Baradeo, Buradeo, and Nagbaba. Their important festivals are Holi, Diwali, Bhujalia, Akhati, Shivratri, and Rakhi.

What Are Their Needs?

Jesus needs to be presented to them as more than just another deity in their pantheon of gods. A low literacy rate suggests that printed presentations of the gospel will be inadequate for the Bharia community. They very much need to raise the literacy rate in their community, and they need to acquire skills to make them employable. Stories from scripture, recordings, and videos will all be needed and useful.

Prayer Points

Pray God's people will relate the story of the one who is above all.

Pray for love and Holy Spirit anointing to define the lives of the few Bharia Christian believers.

Please pray for teachers to be sent to these people, to help them become firmly established as followers of Jesus.

Pray for the Bharia to see the importance of providing a good education for their children.