Kharva (Hindu traditions) in India
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Copyrighted © 2024
Isudas All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
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| People Name: | Kharva (Hindu traditions) |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 467,000 |
| World Population: | 480,000 |
| Primary Language: | Gujarati |
| Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.23 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Hindu - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Kharva people are scattered throughout the southern two thirds of India. A small number are in Pakistan's Sindh Province where they speak Sindhi. Those in India speak Gujarati.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The primary occupation of the Kharva has been salt extraction and preparation. Others are involved with farming, and some are fishermen. The necklace and colored powder worn as a dot on the forehead (kumkum) are the symbols of a married woman. They cremate their dead but children below eighteen months of age are buried. On the thirteenth day, they offer balls of rice cooked in milk to the dead.
They usually maintain close and cordial social relations with neighboring communities.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Their deities are Shakti, Mahakali Katyayani, and Bhuvaneshwari. Some are followers of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism.
What Are Their Needs?
The Hindu Kharva community speaks several languages in India, as do most people groups in South Asia. Separate church planting projects may be needed for each language subgroup. Please pray that Christian evangelists and church planters will be sent to the Hindu Kharva people in the Lord's timing.
Prayer Points
Please pray those who will soon come to faith in Christ will be quick to confess sin when it occurs and will learn to live in the power of the Lord's Spirit, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord. Pray the Kharva community will be completely set free from worshipping deities that have no power to bring good into the lives of the people, and instead will be brought into the dominion of the creator God who loves them.