Baira in India

The Baira have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Baira are a tribal people and considered as a low class community, people outside of the Hindu caste system. The traditional occupation of the Baira has been hunter-gathering. The men hunted for animals for food, feathers and hides. The women gathered edible items from the forest such as berries and roots. The Indian government has made hunting illegal because many of the animals used for food by the Baira have become endangered.

Since Kannada is the language of Karnataka, it is the one the Baira people use the most. Many resources are available in Kannada including a complete Bible and the JESUS Film. There are few if any believers among the Baira.

Most of the Baira people live in India's southern states of Karnataka and Kerala.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Illiteracy is a major issue for the Baira. Though they like to have their sons get a primary education, their daughters usually stay home and help their mothers. A high portion of the Baira women and girls are unable it read and write. Children often quit school after a few years to help their parents make a living. The Indian government has encouraged the Baira to live in one place not following the nomadic ways of their ancestors. Most Baira families have a few goats and chickens to supplement their diet of rice, roots, coconuts and vegetables. The main livelihood of the Baira is working in agriculture on land owned by others. They work on tea, coconut and palm tree plantations and in rice paddies.

Baira tend to marry within their group. As a low class community, few Hindus from higher castes would want their children to marry a Baira person. Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm. Baira parents have large families. Since the Baira lack access to modern medicine, many children die before their 10th birthday of preventable diseases. It is the responsibility of sons to take care of elderly parents. Sons inherit their father's property. Village elders make judicial decisions and set behavior rules.

Some Baira young people are moving to Indian cities in hope of a better life. Unfortunately, they have to work the lowest paying jobs due to their lack of job skills and education.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Baira 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 as Christians do. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins. Since the Baira are a tribal people, they have their own priests, shamans and shrines.

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 Baira need good schools and teachers, so they improve the educational level. They also need new jobs skill to that their young people can compete in the modernizing Indian economy. Solar panels can bring the blessings of electricity to the Baira villages. Most of all, the Baira need to hear and understand the good news of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send loving workers and teachers to the Baira.

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Baira.

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

Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Baira people to change their society from within.

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


Scripture Prayers for the Baira in India.


References

peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Baira
People Name in Country Baira
Alternate Names Bailaptar; Bailkambar; Bairi; Bare; Baruri; Bhaira; Bhairavar; Biare; Bikapatar; Byadi; Shilpakar; Shilpkar; बैरा
Population this Country 10,000
Population all Countries 10,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16294
ROP3 Code 111420
ROP25 Code 300994
ROP25 Name Bayira
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 9
Largest States
Karnataka
4,800
Tamil Nadu
3,300
Kerala
1,200
Uttarakhand
900
Andhra Pradesh
90
Goa
50
Puducherry
50
Odisha
50
Uttar Pradesh
10
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 9
  Karnataka 4,800
  Tamil Nadu 3,300
  Kerala 1,200
  Uttarakhand 900
  Andhra Pradesh 90
  Goa 50
  Puducherry 50
  Odisha 50
  Uttar Pradesh 10
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 Kannada (4,100 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Konkani, Goan
2,700
Tamil
1,000
Kumaoni
600
Malayalam
200
Hindi
200
Tulu
30
Primary Language Kannada (4,100 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Konkani, Goan 2,700
  Tamil 1,000
  Kumaoni 600
  Malayalam 200
  Hindi 200
  Tulu 30
People Groups Speaking Kannada

Primary Language:  Kannada

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1988)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1823-2023)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2023)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kannada Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime 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 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
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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