Dhanuk 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 Dhanuks who are settled in northern India are either low caste or a minority indigenous people. Dhanuks are also called Rajbanshis. Smaller groups of Dhanuks are found in Bangladesh and Nepal. The main language of the Dhanuks is Hindi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The language and culture of the Dhanuks are like that of the Tharus. The Dhanuks, like Tharus, are employed by landlords and well-to-do persons in private households and farms. Dhanuks do not marry within the clan, nor do they have the practice of cross-cousin marriage. In most cases the parents seek a spouse for their child. Due to the influence of neighbors, they also have the dowry system which involves the bride's family bringing a certain amount of wealth into the new family or to the groom's family. Those who do not abide by rules are expelled from the ethnic group.
Since the Dhanuks dwell in the river basins and the edges of forests, they fish and raise livestock. Some Dhanuks are even big landowners while others are landless. Many earn their livelihood by working as agriculture laborers and household servants. The houses of Dhanuks are plastered with mud.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all Dhanuk practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain "moksha" or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Dhanuk 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 many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Dhanuk people are 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. In some places Brahmins are appointed as priests while in other places they use their own priests.
They are divided into two groups in terms of religion: those who worship the Hindu goddess Kali are called Kaliyaha and others are called Maharkhiya. Those who worship Kali eat pork and drink alcohol, whereas Maharkhiyas do not do so. They also worship a goddess called Gahil, who is one of five sisters. Their other goddesses are Shitalmata and Goureya Gaiya. Like other tribes they have their own rites of birth, death and marriage. The pregnant woman is kept in a separate home to arrange assistance from a midwife of the Chamar community. They believe they drive ghosts away by putting the branches of jujube and unwanted shoes at the main gate of the house. They give the newborn baby goat milk to drink. Dhanuks believe in magic, witchcraft and ghosts. Today there are several churches and several believers among them.


What Are Their Needs?

The Dhanuk would benefit from job training and access to modern medicine.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Dhanuk people a willingness to receive the blessings of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Dhanuk disciples who will make more disciples.
Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Dhanuk people to tell them about Jesus.


Scripture Prayers for the Dhanuk in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dhanuk
People Name in Country Dhanuk
Pronunciation dah-NOOK
Alternate Names Dhakna Rajput; Dhanak; Dhanak Julaha; Dhankia; Harijan; Jamadar; Julaha; Kabirpanthi; Kurmi; Mahatroji; Mandalji Mahatoji; Mandatji; Methur; Patel; धानुक
Population this Country 4,984,000
Population all Countries 5,243,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 100
People ID 16696
ROP3 Code 111925
ROP25 Code 302056
ROP25 Name Dhanuk
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 17
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Bihar
2,895,000
Uttar Pradesh
773,000
Haryana
665,000
Rajasthan
135,000
Madhya Pradesh
125,000
Punjab
106,000
Delhi
90,000
Jharkhand
80,000
West Bengal
77,000
Odisha
31,000
Chandigarh
3,400
Uttarakhand
1,800
Andaman and Nicobar
600
Tripura
400
Chhattisgarh
300
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 17
  Bihar 2,895,000
  Uttar Pradesh 773,000
  Haryana 665,000
  Rajasthan 135,000
  Madhya Pradesh 125,000
  Punjab 106,000
  Delhi 90,000
  Jharkhand 80,000
  West Bengal 77,000
  Odisha 31,000
  Chandigarh 3,400
  Uttarakhand 1,800
  Andaman and Nicobar 600
  Tripura 400
  Chhattisgarh 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.05 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.76 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.19 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (2,734,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 28
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhojpuri
335,000
Maithili
328,000
Angika
160,000
Kanauji
114,000
Haryanvi
96,000
Awadhi
86,000
Punjabi, Eastern
84,000
Magahi
72,000
Bengali
70,000
Bagri
40,000
Odia
24,000
Marwari
22,000
Shekhawati
17,000
Bundeli
13,000
Dhundari
2,500
Primary Language Hindi (2,734,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 28
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhojpuri 335,000
  Maithili 328,000
  Angika 160,000
  Kanauji 114,000
  Haryanvi 96,000
  Awadhi 86,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 84,000
  Magahi 72,000
  Bengali 70,000
  Bagri 40,000
  Odia 24,000
  Marwari 22,000
  Shekhawati 17,000
  Bundeli 13,000
  Dhundari 2,500
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 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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