Bhar in India

People Name:	Bhar
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	2,382,000
World Population:	2,392,400
Primary Language:	Bhojpuri
Primary Religion:	Hinduism
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Online Audio NT:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Hindu - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Many centuries ago, the Bhar community was deposed by the invading Rajput and Muslims. Their struggle with the Rajput and Muslim invaders continued for about two hundred years, at the end of which Ibrahim Shah Waarli of Jaunpur killed the last Bhar ruler.

They live mainly in eastern Uttar Pradesh, but also Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Child marriages are prevalent; however, the trend towards adult marriage is increasing. Agriculture is the main occupation of the Bhar, and they usually work as laborers in fields owned by the Muslims, Thakur and Yadav.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindu and worship deities like Deeh Baba and Burhao Baba. 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 Bhar culture involves worshiping the spirits of created things, not the Creator God. They need to make the distinction between what is created and the holy creator.

There are many good resource materials available in the primary language of the Bhar people, but there is a great need for workers.

Prayer Points

Pray for loving workers for this ripening harvest.

Pray for each individual in the Bhar community to have many opportunities to hear of Jesus accurately, in his or her mother tongue.

Pray for the Bhar to make schooling a priority for their children, and for good schools to be available to this community.

Pray that new Bhar believers will become effective and fruitful in sharing and discussing Bible stories with their own and other families. They will need prayer support. Pray they will learn to speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Pray for easy access to Scripture in printed and recorded forms.