Bahelia (Hindu traditions) 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

How the mighty have fallen! The Bahelia people are now considered a low status community, but they were once high in the Hindu caste system and part of a powerful Rajput army. After a key defeat, they had to hide in the jungles, where they survived by catching birds and animals, honey extraction, all considered inferior jobs. Most live in Uttar Pradesh, India, but a smaller number are in Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Taking such jobs led to them losing their favorable caste status. Usually landless, many work as day laborers, though they have a tradition of making fans with peacock feathers and selling the birds they catch.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bahelia people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. 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 Bahelia people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers them in John 10:10.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will send culturally-sensitive missionaries who will show them the way to the cross.


Scripture Prayers for the Bahelia (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bahelia (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Bahelia (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Ahuliya; Bahelia; Baheliya; Bahila; Baila; Bailia; Boila; Chirimar; बहेलिया (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 3,200
Population all Countries 208,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16288
ROP3 Code 111413
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
Dhaka
2,200
Khulna
600
Rangpur
200
Chittagong
100
Rajshahi
100
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
  Dhaka 2,200
  Khulna 600
  Rangpur 200
  Chittagong 100
  Rajshahi 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
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 (3,100 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Sylheti
30
Primary Language Bengali (3,100 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Sylheti 30
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

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Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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Photo Source Anonymous 
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.


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