Parhaiya in Bangladesh


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Bangladesh census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The name Parahiya literally means "the burners of the forest" or "hill dweller." The Parahiya tribe live in the Sonbhadra District of the Uttar Pradesh in northern India. The area they live in is mostly hilly and isolated from other settlements. A smaller number live further east in Bangladesh where they speak the Sylheti language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditionally the Parahiya people relied on the forest for their sustenance. With so little open forest land in Bangladesh, they are in serious economic trouble.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Parahiya 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?

They need to find a better way to make a living. This will involve getting higher education.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Parhaiya culture to be renewed and enhanced by a work of the Holy Spirit and shaped into a God-centered and God-honoring mold.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among their family and community leaders to seek his face and enjoy his blessings.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will be compelled to nurture a Disciple Making Movement among the Parhaiya people.
Pray that soon the Parhaiya people will have faith that will lead them to live honorable lives that will draw others to the savior.
Pray that their interactions in marketplaces will lead them to Christ and thereby salvation.


Scripture Prayers for the Parhaiya in Bangladesh.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Parhaiya
People Name in Country Parhaiya
Alternate Names Baiga; Maler; Pandubasi; Parahiya; परहया
Population this Country 6,500
Population all Countries 43,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17850
ROP3 Code 113324
ROP25 Code 306568
ROP25 Name Parhaiya
Country Bangladesh
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 26  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Bangladesh
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 26  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 1
  Sylhet 6,500
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.76 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.01 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.23 %
* From latest Bangladesh census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Sylheti (5,500 speakers)
Language Code syl   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Bengali
1,000
Primary Language Sylheti (5,500 speakers)
Language Code syl   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Bengali 1,000
People Groups Speaking Sylheti
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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