Gonrhi 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 Gonhri people are also known as Mallah or Nishad. They are a caste associated with boating and fishing. They believe themselves to be descendants of the legendary figure, Nishad, who ferried King Rama and his wife, Sita, across the Ganges River. That tradition has been passed down through the centuries. They take pride in their caste and consider their occupation as boatmen carrying Hindu devotees as a high calling or holy occupation. Others consider them to be a "backward" (meaning low prestige) caste. The Gonrhi people live mainly in India's states of West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The well-educated ones among them are teachers and government workers, but the majority of them continue as their ancestors have done for centuries: cultivating or fishing. Within their fishing community, they have specialized work based on their subgroup. Some are boatmen, others are fishermen. Those who fish use fishing baskets rather than nets. Many of them belong to the Matsyajibi Unnyan Samity which seeks to improve the welfare of those engaged in the fishing trade. They usually find a mate through family negotiations. Though monogamy is the custom, they will make an exception if the wife is infertile. Then the husband can take a second wife. They don't permit divorce. Their daughters get an equal share of the family wealth if they don't have brothers. Otherwise, the boys receive it all.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gonrhi 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?

Pride can be an obstacle. They can have high status as princes and princesses if they would only accept it. The Gonhri people need to accept the dignity of being his children rather than thinking they can gain dignity through their accomplishments.


Prayer Points

There are no Gonhri people in Nepal, Bangladesh or India who follow Christ, so pray that the 2020s will be a decade of spiritual breakthroughs in their communities. Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Gonhri people in Nepal and India. Pray for the Gonhri people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods. Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Gonhri people to change their society from within. Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers Gonhri disciples to make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Gonrhi in Bangladesh.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Gonrhi
People Name in Country Gonrhi
Pronunciation gohn-REE
Alternate Names Chabri; Gond Gund; Goneri; Gonhr; Gonr; Gonrh; Gorh; Gothahum; Gounr; Gour; Gunrhi; Gurshi; Machhuar; Mallah; Mollah; गॉनरही
Population this Country 6,600
Population all Countries 965,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16857
ROP3 Code 112139
ROP25 Code 302584
ROP25 Name Gonrhi
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 6
Largest States
Dhaka
3,600
Rangpur
1,300
Rajshahi
1,200
Barisal
300
Khulna
100
Chittagong
70
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 6
  Dhaka 3,600
  Rangpur 1,300
  Rajshahi 1,200
  Barisal 300
  Khulna 100
  Chittagong 70
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 (6,400 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Sylheti
100
Chittagonian
70
Primary Language Bengali (6,400 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Sylheti 100
  Chittagonian 70
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)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
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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
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Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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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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