Beda in India


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

Introduction / History

In the past the Beda wandered over a vast territory, playing their music all the way to the Tibetan border. They used to pack their belongings over mules and asses staying on the outskirts of Bot [Tibetan] villages for a few days before moving on to the next village. They traversed throughout the Ladakh, Nubra and Zangskar valleys visiting far-flung villages in the course of their annual cycle of migration. On the completion of their renderings they would beg collection food grains from Bot households so that they could sell the surplus food grains in the market place in Leh and purchase necessary items like clothes and utensils.

In 1989 the Beda were granted status in India as a scheduled tribe. The Beda in Ladakh have been living there for approximately 200 years, having migrated from the Lahaul and Spitti area of Himachal Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In Jammu and Kashmir the Beda are thinly scattered in villages around Leh, the capital of Ladakh and former home of the Ladakhi monarchy. Because of their role as musicians and beggars, the Beda spread themselves out over a number of villages in order to obtain maximum exposure and economic benefit. Usually no more than a few Beda families live in the same village, alongside Ladakhi and people from other ethnic groups.

The Beda have been described as a 'wandering musician community of Ladakh. Their chief occupation is begging. They play on the surna (clarinet), daman (drum) or duff (tambourine) in public places or near a house. Usually the male members play while the females dance on the beats of the tambourine. They beg after they complete these musical shows. Due to their occupation of begging, they rank lowest in the Ladakhi society.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Despite their small population, there are Beda who follow each of the four major world religions. Nominally, the majority of Beda families believe in Tibetan Buddhism. Some are Muslims, and the Beda living in Himachal Pradesh are Hindus, while a few families are Moravian Christians. The Moravians first sent missionaries to Ladakh in 1852, and through bringing humanitarian aid they soon won the respect of the community.


What Are Their Needs?

Like people everywhere, the Beda people need to allow the loving Savior to direct their lives. They need his forgiveness for sin.


Prayer Points

Pray for them to understand and respond to Christ.

Pray God will have mercy on the Beda, doing whatever it takes to place them in a position to receive him.

Ask God to open the hearts of the Beda to the gospel.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Beda in India.


References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Beda
People Name in Country Beda
Alternate Names Bedar; Beta; Bhot; Bhotia; Bodh; Jyali; Jyayi; बेदार (बुद्धिस्ट ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 700
Population all Countries 1,100
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19193
ROP3 Code 115253
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 3
Largest States
Ladakh
400
Himachal Pradesh
300
Jammu and Kashmir
100
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 3
  Ladakh 400
  Himachal Pradesh 300
  Jammu and Kashmir 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
49.85 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.08 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
36.84 %
Islam
12.23 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Ladakhi (700 speakers)
Language Code lbj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Ladakhi (700 speakers)
Language Code lbj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Ladakhi
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2023  Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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.