Introduction / History

The Kandu (or Halwai) are traditionally a business community that sold parched grain. There are about 250-300 lineages among them, and each lineage is identified by a name. Though they live in other parts of India, they are especially numerous in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

A regional council, known as the Vaisya Abha, looks after the welfare of the community as a whole. A Hindi-speaking Brahmin performs the role of the priest for this community.

They are strictly vegetarian, and the prohibit alcoholic drinks. The Kandu tend to live in extended families.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kandu people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.

What Are Their Needs?

The Kandu people speak several languages, as do most communities in India. Each language subgroup may need its own church planting project.

Prayer Points

Pray the youth of this community will discover Christian music and other resources on the internet and will listen, download and view these resources with spiritual understanding.

Pray Christian believers among the Kandu will be devoted to one another in brotherly love, honoring one another above themselves.

Please pray for a movement to Christ among the Kandu people in each country where they reside.

The light of the gospel needs to shine strongly in this group. It will take loving Christian believers to go to them. Pray for this to happen soon.

Scripture Prayers for the Kandu in India.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandu