The Tiyar are a group of people who live in northeast India and Bangladesh. Tiyar comes from the word for hunter in Sanskrit. The Tiyar were traditionally hunters in the forests of ancient India. With the forests mostly gone, the Tiyar work in the fishing industry and as landless agricultural laborers.
The Tiyar are a Scheduled Caste, which means they are eligible for special consideration in public jobs and university admission. Many Tiyar live in rural villages without electricity, access to clean water and indoor plumbing. Illiteracy is a problem among the Tiyar. The Indian government is working to improve the living conditions of the Tiyar.
The primary languages of the Tiyar are Bengali and Hindi. They also speak other regional Indian languages.
The largest groups of Tiyar live in the northeast Indian states of Bengal, Bihar and
Odisha. Other smaller groups live in other sections of India and Bangladesh.
The lives of the Tiyar are challenging. When fishing is good they make enough money to feed their families. When fishing is not good, they suffer great need.
The landless farm workers are often dependent on the landowners they labor for.
The Tiyar marry within their caste but not within their gotra or clan. They hire Brahmin priests to officiate at their life ceremonies. Families arrange marriages with the newly married couple living near or with the groom's parents. Sons inherit their father's property. Caste associations promote their interests and settle legal disputes.
The main foods of the Tiyar are fish, rice, vegetables, fruit and other grains. They do not eat beef, as is the custom of Hindus.
The Tiyar practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Tiyar visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. Their villages often have their own protector god or goddess.
The main yearly holidays of the Tiyar people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the celebration of autumn.
The Tiyar as a Scheduled Caste have pressing needs. They need help in educating their children. They need electricity, clean water and indoor plumbing in their villages. Most of all they need to hear and respond to the life-changing message of Jesus Christ that alone can forgive their sins.
Ask God to send Christian workers to share the good news of Christ with the Tiyar.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those ministering to the Tiyar people.
Pray the Lord will start a movement of Tiyar families experiencing God's blessings
Scripture Prayers for the Tiyar in India.
peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=41595
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiar
Profile Source: David Kugel |
Global Prayer Digest: 2009-09-14 |
People Name General | Tiyar |
People Name in Country | Tiyar |
Pronunciation |
tee-AR
|
Alternate Names | Muchhua; Parichar; Rajbangsi; Tiar; Tior; Titar; Tivora; Tiyaro; Torai; टीयर |
Population this Country | 589,000 |
Population all Countries | 642,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 12 |
People ID | 18252 |
ROP3 Code | 113784 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Tiyar |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Tiyar |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 13 |
Tarai 27,000 | |
Jele Tiyar 4,200 | |
Ghodai 600 | |
Artia 300 | |
Kolodondia 300 | |
Mlechha 300 | |
Bin 0 | |
Kewat 0 | |
Malha Suraiya 0 | |
Muriari 0 |
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 on file | 17 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 17 |
West Bengal 269,000 | |
Bihar 217,000 | |
Odisha 84,000 | |
Jharkhand 5,700 | |
Tripura 1,200 | |
Meghalaya 800 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 700 | |
Chhattisgarh 600 | |
Delhi 600 | |
Nagaland 100 | |
Mizoram 100 | |
Maharashtra 100 | |
Madhya Pradesh 90 | |
Uttar Pradesh 70 | |
Manipur 60 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.01 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.15 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.83 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Bengali (221,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 12 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bengali (221,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 12 |
Secondary Languages | |
Hindi 115,000 | |
Odia 68,000 | |
Angika 40,000 | |
Maithili 34,000 | |
Bhojpuri 9,800 | |
Magahi 3,200 | |
Kui 300 | |
Chhattisgarhi 300 | |
Munda 60 | |
Kurux 40 | |
Pengo 30 | |
People Groups | Speaking Bengali |
Primary Language: Bengali
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1800-1980) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1801-1984) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1809-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Copyrighted © 2023 Mr. Keyboard - Shutterstock All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | David Kugel |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |