Beldar (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Bangladesh census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The word Beldar is derived from two words; "bel" meaning a digging instrument, and "dar" referring to the person who handles it. They are associated with digging and carrying soil in the context of agriculture. They have also been noted for making bricks and clearing agricultural land.
They live in Madhya Pradesh, but some live in Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal. A smaller number are further east in Bangladesh or further north in Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Though fewer in number, there are Beldar who are engaged in animal husbandry, small business, industrial work and unskilled labor. Some produce and sell an alcoholic drink. Alcoholism and drug addiction is common among the Beldar. There are Beldar people doing well economically in major cities.
The Beldar people have their own folk songs and folktales. Though they speak in the Baghelkandi dialect at home, most of them also speak Bengali in Bangladesh.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindus. After cremating their dead, they worship the deceased's spirit a year later.


What Are Their Needs?

They perceive themselves as part of a lower caste, and others perceive them as being in this category as well. This belief holds them back socially and economically. The few Christian believers among them live in India, not Bangladesh.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to bless them materially and spiritually as a testimony of his power and goodness.
Pray for missionaries to produce stories and songs in the Beldar traditions that will lead them to seek Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Beldar people to have easy access to Christian materials in the Hindi language.
Pray for spiritual discernment and hunger among the Beldar people.


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


References

Some information from "The Scheduled Castes" K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Beldar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Beldar (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation BEL-dar
Alternate Names Bachgotra; Bailwar; Bentkar; Bhujan; Bhujwa; Bilwar; Bunkar; Cetti; Changar; Chauhan; Chetti; Chunar; Chunara; Chunari; Chuncha; Chundollu; Chungar; Chuniyara; Gavandi; Goundi; Govandi; Kannada Balija Naickar; Kannada Naickar; Kannada Naicker; Kannadiya Naicker; Kannadiyar; Karpoora Chetti; Kattautia; Kerebandiyavaru; Lonari; Londhari; Lonia; Lonkar; Lonmali; Lunia; Matadi; Melusakkare; MelusakkareSagara; Melusakkareyavaru; Memar; Mila; Nunari; Nunia; Nuniya Beldar; Nuri; Odavandlu; Rai; Roy; Sagar; Sagara; Sagaravanshadavara; Sagarollu; Sagarvanshadavaru; Sagra; Sonkari; Sunga; Sunkar; Sunkaravandlu; Tamuli; Toreya; Unar; Upasara; Uplan; Uppaliga; Uppaliga Shetti; Uppaligashetty; Uppara; Uppari; Uppilara Naicker; Uppilia; Uppilia Naicker; Uppiliar; Uppiliga Naicker; Uppiliyan; Vethalaikaran; बेलदर (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 13,000
Population all Countries 2,009,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16375
ROP3 Code 111517
ROP25 Code 301046
ROP25 Name Beldar
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
Rangpur
5,900
Dhaka
4,600
Sylhet
1,700
Khulna
500
Rajshahi
200
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
  Rangpur 5,900
  Dhaka 4,600
  Sylhet 1,700
  Khulna 500
  Rajshahi 200
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 (11,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Sylheti
1,400
Primary Language Bengali (11,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Sylheti 1,400
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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 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 Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali 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 Rivka 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 Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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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 Anonymous 
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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