Mal (Hindu traditions) 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

Mal is a shortened form of a Sanskrit phrase that can mean wrestler. The Mals live mainly in the Indian states of Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand. They speak Hindi, Bengali, or another language, depending on their location.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of them are agricultural laborers with no land of their own, although they are also known for being watchmen or gatekeepers.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Mal 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 Mal people live in states where there are very few followers of Christ, and they have almost no contact with anyone who has put their faith in the only savior.

Believers can sponsor cultural events that honor the Mal people with demonstrations of their wrestling abilities, etc. These events can include showings of the JESUS Film and free gospel material.


Prayer Points

There are few believers among the Mal people. Pray for growth in both numbers and spiritual maturity. Pray that the Mal, the "wrestlers," will soon have an opportunity to be confronted by the true and living God. Pray that they, like Jacob, will persevere in faith and find their true purpose as children of God.

Pray that God gives the Mal dreams and visions leading them to Jesus Christ.

Pray that the community leaders among them will come to Jesus Christ and lead the others to salvation.


Scripture Prayers for the Mal (Hindu traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mal (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Mal (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation mahl
Alternate Names Malia; Malla; माल (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 2,086,000
Population all Countries 2,110,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 42
People ID 17424
ROP3 Code 112825
ROP25 Code 304996
ROP25 Name Mal (India)
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 20
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Bihar
1,596,000
West Bengal
360,000
Jharkhand
112,000
Odisha
9,400
Andaman and Nicobar
1,600
Uttar Pradesh
1,600
Delhi
900
Chhattisgarh
900
Maharashtra
800
Meghalaya
800
Nagaland
600
Arunachal Pradesh
400
Madhya Pradesh
300
Uttarakhand
100
Mizoram
100
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 20
  Bihar 1,596,000
  West Bengal 360,000
  Jharkhand 112,000
  Odisha 9,400
  Andaman and Nicobar 1,600
  Uttar Pradesh 1,600
  Delhi 900
  Chhattisgarh 900
  Maharashtra 800
  Meghalaya 800
  Nagaland 600
  Arunachal Pradesh 400
  Madhya Pradesh 300
  Uttarakhand 100
  Mizoram 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.99 %
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 Hindi (716,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
532,000
Bengali
318,000
Maithili
137,000
Magahi
46,000
Odia
4,300
Angika
2,000
Andaman Hindi Creole
100
Kannada
60
Assamese
Primary Language Hindi (716,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 532,000
  Bengali 318,000
  Maithili 137,000
  Magahi 46,000
  Odia 4,300
  Angika 2,000
  Andaman Hindi Creole 100
  Kannada 60
  Assamese 10
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
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 Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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