The Bokar are an indigenous people who live in the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Roughly half of the population lives in China on the other side of the border. The people of their area depend on agricultural production and animal husbandry for a living. The Bokar speak Adi. A complete Adi Bible became available in 2009. Many of the Bokar are functionally illiterate so they will have to learn to read if they are to be able to read the Bible for themselves. The majority of the Bokar claim to be Christian.
Culturally the Bokar people are rich in their art, dances and music. Other peoples, even in Arunachal Pradesh, do not know about the Bokar tribe because they live in such an isolated region. Some of the Bokar are dependent on government programs to feed their familiesThe Bokar celebrate the Podi-Barbi festival every year on December 5. According to the legend, "Podi-Barbi" means a small cricket-like migratory insect which makes a tweeting sound and migrates from far-flung places and arrives at the time of harvesting season in the region. Since the people did not use any calendar by which they could know the exact time of harvesting, they took the arrival of this small insect as their calendar. The festival is celebrated in the harvest season, when the insect arrives at the region. It is celebrated in order to welcome the harvesting season and to extend thankfulness to Mother Nature for a good harvest in the current year. They take the opportunity at this festival to pray for a sufficient growth of crops in the coming years and also for ample hunting of wild animals. During this day men and women wear traditional attire. The sacrifice of domestic animals during the festival is another feature of the celebration and the ritual is performed by a local priest.
On the Indian side of the border, the Bokar people are over about two-thirds Christian, but on China's side, they remain an unreached people group. Smaller groups of Bokar are Hindu, Buddhist or practice folk religion.
Ask the Lord to send Indian Bokar believers to China to tell the Bokar across the border about Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Bokar people this decade. Ask the Lord to raise up trained pastors among the Bokar who can teach them the Word of God.
Scripture Prayers for the Bokar in India.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Bokar |
People Name in Country | Bokar |
Alternate Names | Adi Bokar; बोकर |
Population this Country | 5,600 |
Population all Countries | 9,900 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 3 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
People ID | 16499 |
ROP3 Code | 111670 |
Country | India | ||
Region | Asia, South | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | ||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 1 |
Arunachal Pradesh 5,500 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Christianity |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.52 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
68.38 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
1.51 %
|
Islam |
0.80 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.04 %
|
Unknown |
28.76 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Adi (4,600 speakers) |
Language Code | adi Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Bokar |
Dialect Code | 6680 Global Recordings Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Adi (4,600 speakers) |
Language Code | adi Ethnologue Listing |
Primary Dialect | Bokar |
Dialect Code | 6680 Global Recordings Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Adi |
Primary Language: Adi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1932-1986) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1988-2003) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (2005-2012) |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Adi | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | Gospel website in this language | General / Other |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Adi | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Adi | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | bojum |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |