The Balai or Balahi live in the central states of India. "Balai" means messenger in Hindi. Their traditional occupations were that of landless farm laborers, weavers and village watchmen. The Balahi are a Scheduled Caste, which means they are eligible for special benefits from the Indian government because of their poverty. This includes reserved places in education and public jobs.
Some Balai have risen in Indian society to careers as masons, carpenters and business owners. Unfortunately, many Balai are still illiterate.
The primary language of the Balai is Hindi. They also speak other regional languages such as Dhundari, Nimadi, Mewari and Malvi.
The large majority of Balai live in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajastan. Many also live in the Capital Territory of Delhi.
Most Balai people are very poor by Indian standards. Although they can eat meat except for beef and pork, they seldom can afford it. Their diet consists of rice, grains and whatever roots and vegetables they can obtain.
Balai do not marry members of their families such as cousins. They do marry within their gotra or clan and community. Brahmin priests perform the weddings. Adult marriage is the general practice. Brides go to live with the groom's family. Sons inherit family property. Women often work as domestic servants to supplement family income. The Balai live in multi-caste villages in their own areas. They bury their dead.
Almost all Balai are Hindus. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Balai give special service and attention to Durga, the mother-warrior goddess. They visit her temples and travel to her shrines. Balai celebrate the traditional Hindu holidays such a Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the festival of the beginning of spring.
A tiny minority of Balai are Christians.
The Balai need to hear the life-changing gospel of Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see that true spiritual wealth is found in Jesus not in the gods of Hinduism. They need help in becoming literate so they can read the Bible in Hindi and raise their position in Indian society.
* Scripture Prayers for the Balai (Hindu traditions) in India.
* Pray that the small group of Balai Christians would be built up and trained to share the gospel with their brothers and sisters.
* Pray the Lord sends Christian workers to live among the Balai and demonstrate the love and care of our Father and Savior.
* Pray that God is honored by the planting of many Bible-believing churches in the Balai community.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balai
indianetzone.com/50/balahi_caste.htm
Profile Source: David Kugel |
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-10-08 |
People Name General | Balai (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Balai (Hindu traditions) |
Population this Country | 2,244,000 |
Population all Countries | 2,244,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 45 |
Alternate Names | Bakhoalhai; Balahi; Balai; Bulai; Meghbansi; Meghwal; Mehra; बलाई (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 16309 |
ROP3 Code | 111438 |
Country | India | ||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||||||||
Total States on file | 10 | ||||||||||||
Largest States |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 10 |
Madhya Pradesh 1,335,000 | |
Rajasthan 790,000 | |
Delhi 98,000 | |
Maharashtra 17,000 | |
Odisha 1,900 | |
Gujarat 1,200 | |
Uttar Pradesh 1,100 | |
Uttarakhand 700 | |
Chhattisgarh 200 | |
Goa 20 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Hindi (1,507,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 23 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (1,507,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 23 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Dhundari 208,000 | |
Malvi 128,000 | |
Nimadi 116,000 | |
Mewari 94,000 | |
Shekhawati 80,000 | |
Marwari 44,000 | |
Merwari 41,000 | |
Haroti: Harauti 11,000 | |
Marathi 3,400 | |
Wagdi 3,100 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 2,500 | |
Khandesi 2,000 | |
Odia 1,800 | |
Gujarati 1,700 | |
Marwari 900 | |
People Groups | Speaking Hindi |
Primary Language: Hindi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1806-1962) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1811-1998) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1835-2012) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Hindi |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | A Beautiful Hope (EngSub) |
Film / Video | Coconuts |
Film / Video | Creation to Christ |
Film / Video | Father's Love Letter |
Film / Video | Following Jesus (India, JF Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Hindi |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Rivka (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
General | Bible Visuals |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.04 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.30 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.61 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.05 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |