Bawaria (Hindu traditions) in India
bah-wah-ree-AH

According to their own legends, the Bawaria were once part of the powerful Hindu Rajput caste. During a fight between the Mughals and the Rajputs, a Bawaria individual foolishly polluted something with cow's blood, which prevented the Rajputs from bringing their dead soldiers back. When the Rajputs were defeated, the Bawarias were exiled to the jungle to spend their days eking out an existence by hunting and gathering. Worse yet, they were now outcastes, a considerable step down from their former status. They still consider themselves to be Rajputs, but other communities would not agree, though they have a higher status than most outcastes. They were known to use a noose for hunting, so their name is derived from a word for a noose. Some of them still make ropes, but they are much more likely to be farmers.

Ministry Obstacles
Most of them live in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Delhi. These are some of the less-reached parts of India. The long prior history of being stigmatized and stereotyped as criminals has left them fearful and wary of outsiders. That hinders others' efforts to share the gospel with the Bawarias.

Scripture Focus
"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life."  1 John 5:11-12

Scripture Prayer
Pray that this people group realizes that it is only through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, that they can obtain eternal life.

Prayer Focus
Pray for the Lord to draw the Bawaria into his kingdom through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Pray for them to seek and find the unlimited blessings of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for loving workers to go to the Bawaria until there are disciples who make more disciples of the Lord.

Presented by Joshua Project
www.joshuaproject.net