Introduction / History

The Mahuria are a small business and land-owning community. They claim that their ancestors came from a place known as Mathura, thus the name. Today they recall the migration of their ancestors through oral stories.

Where Are they Located?

The Mahuria people live in Odisha and Bihar, two states in eastern India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

As landowners, the Mahuria people have more prestige and property than most rural communities. They probably have high status, since they are pure vegetarians.

This landowning caste needs a good harvest to maintain their lifestyle. For that reason, they use chemical fertilizers. They hire non-landed people to work their fields.

In marriage alliances they stick with their own people group but do not marry those from other gotras or clans. Families arrange marriages for the younger generation once they reach adulthood, and men usually marry between ages 22-25 and women between 20-22. They perform marriage rituals at the bride's family's home. After the groom's party arrives, they are greeted and given a feast by the bride's family. After four days the couple goes to the groom's home where there is another feast.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Many younger members of the Mahuria community have joined various Hindu sects. At the family household level, the Mahuria people worship both Lakshmi and Ganesh, two deities that Hindus believe will bring economic prosperity. They visit shrines along with other Hindu communities.

What Are Their Needs?

Though this group is economically prosperous, they need the spiritual prosperity that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can provide.

Prayer Points

Pray for families of Mahuria believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.
Pray for a chain reaction of Mahuria families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into the entire Mahuria society as all believers learn to love others.
Pray that churches and believers will bless their entire people group in such a way that God's love will change the Mahuria people like yeast changes dough.

Scripture Prayers for the Mahuria in India.

References

People of India, Odisha, vol. XVI, pp. 1085-1089, K.S. Singh