The Mahar people were historically a part of the Untouchables caste, the lowest caste in the Hindu social system. This classification caused the Mahar people to face extreme discrimination and legal restrictions on day-to-day activities, out of the fear that they might contaminate higher caste Hindus. These restrictions included items such as when they were allowed to be in the city, whether they were allowed to spit on the ground, and how loudly they were allowed to talk. The Mahar people worked primarily as low-skilled laborers and speak the Marathi language.
Beginning around 1900, the Mahar people experienced a slow social revolution where they began to become aware of and fight for more rights due to British influence. This culminated in the conversion of close to 500,000 Mahar individuals to Buddhism in 1956 led by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. Those that converted to Buddhism are typically not associated with the Mahar people group any longer.
The Mahar people are primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, which is named after them. They can also be found in the surrounding Indian states. There are also small Mahar communities that can be found in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Originally, the Mahar people lived in primarily rural communities, but now are also common in urban areas.
In 1949, the Indian constitution outlawed discrimination against the lowest Hindu social class and the labeling of them as Untouchables. While this has helped the situation of those formerly in the Untouchables class, such as the Mahar people, they still face frequent residual discrimination.
Around the same time as the revolution led by Ambedkar, the Mahar people began to migrate to cities in search of work. They are often employed in low skilled labor such as masons, railway workers, bus/truck drivers, etc. In the rural areas, some Mahar people farm, though the Mahar people have never been an agricultural people group, likely due to their restricted access to land ownership.
The Mahar people are primarily Hindu. They believe in the numerous Hindu gods and the reincarnation cycle based upon their good works. The Mahar also have a small Muslim presence. There have been small successes in evangelizing to the Mahar people, particularly during the social revolution around 1960. This led to small population of Christians amongst the Mahar.
Due to their historical and continual discrimination, the Mahar people face an uphill battle in daily life. Many struggle to obtain all the necessities of life. The Mahar people need both economic and social justice, in order to thrive.
Additionally, they need a spiritual revival. The country of India and the Hindu religion are not very tolerant to Christianity and converts. Christian Mahars will often face even further persecution or discrimination than what they experienced previously as Hindus.
* Scripture Prayers for the Mahar (Hindu traditions) in India.
* Pray that God will begin restorative justice amongst the Mahar people, both socially and economically.
* Pray that God will raise up missionaries that have a heart for the Mahar people.
* Pray that God will soften the hearts of the Mahar people and that they will be responsive to the Gospel.
* Pray that God will establish a thriving church amongst the Mahar people and will give the current Christians the strength to persevere and continue evangelizing.
* Pray for protection for the Mahar Christians from persecution.
Profile Source: Levi Boxell |
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-10-22 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-11-14 |
People Name General | Mahar (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Mahar (Hindu traditions) |
Population this Country | 9,491,000 |
Population all Countries | 9,503,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 4 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 190 |
Alternate Names | Abne; Amadha; Anantkulia; Andvan; Antyaja; Atishudra; Atisudra; Autkamble; Bhumia; Bhumiputra; Bhuyal; Chokhamela; Chokhapur; Dahia; Deharia; Dharnicheput; Dhed; Dhegu Megu; Domb; Holar; Holiya; Hulsava; Jharia; Kathivale; Mahar; Maharani; Maheri; Mahir; Mahobia; Mahri; Mala; Mehra; Mhar; Mhetre; Mirasi; Nahria; Parvari; Potraj; Taral; Thorlegharche; Tigda; Veskar; Yesker; महार (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 17405 |
ROP3 Code | 112805 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Mahar (Hindu traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Mahar (Hindu traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 47 (only 15 largest shown) |
Andvan 53,000 | |
Soma 44,000 | |
Ladvan 41,000 | |
Bavane 36,000 | |
Dhed 33,000 | |
Pan 28,000 | |
Tilvan 26,000 | |
Tigda 25,000 | |
Gopal 24,000 | |
Kamble 22,000 |
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 | 30 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 30 (only 20 largest shown) |
Maharashtra 8,211,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 817,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 243,000 | |
Karnataka 66,000 | |
West Bengal 37,000 | |
Telangana 32,000 | |
Gujarat 29,000 | |
Odisha 21,000 | |
Goa 13,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 4,400 | |
Tripura 3,500 | |
Tamil Nadu 3,100 | |
Delhi 2,900 | |
Rajasthan 2,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh 1,500 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Marathi (8,669,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | mar Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 17 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Marathi (8,669,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mar Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 17 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Hindi 348,000 | |
Chhattisgarhi 123,000 | |
Konkani 123,000 | |
Ahirani 76,000 | |
Khandesi 54,000 | |
Bengali 38,000 | |
Konkani, Goan 35,000 | |
Odia 16,000 | |
Nimadi 8,600 | |
Gujarati 4,500 | |
Telugu 3,300 | |
Malvi 3,300 | |
English 2,000 | |
Kannada 1,400 | |
Sindhi 1,300 | |
People Groups | Speaking Marathi |
Primary Language: Marathi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1807-1957) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1811-1982) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1821-2015) |
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 | Online Scripture / Bible |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Marathi |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
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 Marathi |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
General | Bible Visuals |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | God's Simple Plan |
General | Gospel website in this language |
General | Got Questions Ministry |
Mobile App | Download Bible from Google Play Store |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: मराठी - Marathi |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
63.64 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.13 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
36.17 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.06 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |