Majhwar in Bangladesh

Majhwar
Photo Source:  Copyrighted © 2024
Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Majhwar
Country: Bangladesh
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 19,000
World Population: 241,000
Primary Language: Bengali
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Hindu - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Majhwar are considered an important tribe. They are also called Manjhi which means "headman of a tribal sub division," and Madhya meaning, "in the center." The Majhwar people probably originated from the Gond, Mundas and Kawar tribes.

Where Are they Located?

Majhwar people are located in the states of Madhya Pradesh, in some regions of Chhattisgath and Uttar Pradesh. A smaller number live in Bangladesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Festivals are important in Majhwar culture. Majhwar tribes are involved in agriculture and livestock production, and some are laborers.

Majhwar hold low caste status. They normally marry within their own group but with partners from clans other than their own. They do not allow marriage between people from the same clan.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindus and worship most of the Hindu gods such as Shiva, Vishnu and Rama, and they also worship their family and tribal gods. They have customs similar to other local groups.

The Bhainsa clan regard the buffalo as holy. Baghani Majhwars have been named after the tiger. They believe that clan members will not be attacked by tigers, provided they do not cause an offense. Majhwar people observe birth and death rituals.

What Are Their Needs?

Majhwar people are an unreached people group who do not know their Creator God who loves them and has made provision for them to live eternally with Him. Who will tell them?

Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Majhwar people teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray for a strong movement of the Holy Spirit to bring entire Majhwar families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for Majhwar families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.
Pray for a movement of Majhwar households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.

Text Source:   Keith Carey