Bajania in India


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

War can have far-reaching consequences. The Bajania Nat people of Gujarat, India know this very well. At one time they all lived in Rajasthan and fought for Rajput kings. But when Islamic armies defeated them, some Bajania Nats moved east into what is now Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. For a time, they suffered poverty. To gain even daily food they resorted to doing acrobatic tricks, dancing and prostitution.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bajania no longer practice prostitution. They still do folk dances and acrobatic tricks for anyone who will pay them. The men will beat drums to attract a crowd, and their women will do dances involving ropes stretched between bamboo poles. Many Bajania also work in agriculture on land owned by others.

The Bajania tend to marry within their group. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. Families arrange marriages. The Bajania have large families. Rural Bajania often lack access to modern medicine and clean water. As a result, child mortality is high. Their children frequently quit school after a few years to help their family make a living. Sons inherit their father's property and take care of elderly relatives. Some young people are leaving the villages and moving to Indian cities in search of a better life. Some Bajania have received a college education and now work in government jobs and in the professions.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bajania 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 Bajania who live in villages need the benefits of modern medicine. They need good schools for their children. Most of all the Bajania must hear and respond to the good news about Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Bajania communities.

Pray for the Bajania people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.

Ask the Lord to send Holy Spirit anointed workers to the Bajania.

Pray that Bajania tune to Gujarati radio programs and learn about Christ.

Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers Bajania disciples to make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Bajania in India.


References

peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=41942


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bajania
People Name in Country Bajania
Alternate Names Bajania Nat; Dholi; Karnat; Nat Bajania; Parnewala; Puna Nat; बजनिया
Population this Country 34,000
Population all Countries 34,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16475
ROP3 Code 111642
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 6
Largest States
Gujarat
28,000
Uttar Pradesh
3,000
Maharashtra
2,000
Uttarakhand
400
Tripura
40
Daman and Diu
20
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 6
  Gujarat 28,000
  Uttar Pradesh 3,000
  Maharashtra 2,000
  Uttarakhand 400
  Tripura 40
  Daman and Diu 20
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (24,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Hindi
5,200
Garhwali
200
Bhojpuri
40
Primary Language Gujarati (24,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 5,200
  Garhwali 200
  Bhojpuri 40
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Gujarati Bible (ગુજરાતી બાઇબલ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Gujarati Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Gujarati Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Gujarati Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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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