Magar in Bangladesh


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Magar people are one of the oldest known tribes. However, their origin is unclear. Most likely they are of Tibetan descent because their language and dances are similar to those within Tibetan cultures.
There are two major groups of Magar (the Eastern and Western) and which are further divided into a number of clans. The Magar language, which is divided into four groups, gives the people a distinct tribal identity. This linguistic classification is important in understanding the Magar tribes.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Magar are craftsmen, although some who own their land have become farmers. Others work as miners, blacksmiths or basket weavers. They tend to be hard-working, honest, self-reliant, and self-sufficient people. They are very jovial and love to sing and dance. They have several kinds of dances as well as tribal games that they frequently play.
Magar people typically live in large, two-story stone houses with slate or thatch roofs. The homes are often constructed with large porches in front.
Magar people have a unique style of dress. Most often, they wear loin cloths and bhotos (shirts with sleeves), or shirts and coats. They often adorn themselves with fulis (flower-like ear ornaments) in the middle parts of their ears and necklaces made of glass beads and silver Indian coins. Some aspects of western style clothing are slowly becoming more common.
Magar marriages are uniquely arranged. The groom's brother-in-law must go to the bride's family and offer a "bride price" of money and alcohol. If the proposal is accepted, they make further payments. Marriages to maternal first cousins are the most common arrangements.
The most distinctive element in the Magar family kinship is the strong bond between maternal uncles and their nephews. They treat one other with respect because when the nephew is ready to marry, his bride will be chosen from among his uncle's daughters.
"Life cycle rituals" are an important part of Magar society. They hold a special birth ceremony eleven days after a child is born. The baby is named and then washed for the first time. In May or June at the time of the full moon they observe the Jyestha Poornima festival. During the ceremony, they offer freshly harvested grains to the gods.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Magar people practice ethnic religions, while the minority are practicing Hindus. Like other Magar groups, Hinduism has greatly influenced the Magar families and leaders. Many now worship the three major Hindu gods: Brahma (creator of the universe), Vishnu (protector and preserver of the worlds), and Shiva (the destroyer), as well as a host of other deities.


What Are Their Needs?

Intercession is the key to breaking down the spiritual strongholds over the Magar people and seeing them reached with the light of Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord of the harvest will thrust forth laborers into Bangladesh.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will open the hearts of governmental leaders in Bangladesh to the gospel.
Ask Almighty God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Pray for the Lord Jesus to reveal His gospel to families and clans that will result in church planting movements that will influence people and government.


Scripture Prayers for the Magar in Bangladesh.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Waiting World - The Nepali

Source:  The Waiting World      Download

People Name General Magar
People Name in Country Magar
Alternate Names Bara Mangar; Eastern Magar; Gurkha; Magari; Mangar; Mangari; Thami; Thapa; मगर
Population this Country 2,500
Population all Countries 2,590,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11698
ROP3 Code 102848
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 on file 5
Largest States
Sylhet
900
Dhaka
800
Rangpur
500
Chittagong
300
Rajshahi
50
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 5
  Sylhet 900
  Dhaka 800
  Rangpur 500
  Chittagong 300
  Rajshahi 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
4.58 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
95.42 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Bangladesh census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (1,600 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Sylheti
800
Chittagonian
60
Primary Language Bengali (1,600 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Sylheti 800
  Chittagonian 60
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)
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Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source The Waiting World
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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