Traditionally the Kayastha were scribes, administrators and record-keepers. They have a longstanding tradition of having a better education than most other communities in South Asia. For this reason, and because of their relatively high caste status, the Kayastha are well-respected throughout South Asia. Though the Kayasthas live mostly in the Indian states of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi, some live further east in the Muslim nation of Bangladesh.
In recently years, these well-educated Hindus have broken new grounds and excelled in vocations other than those relating to writing and record-keeping. They have a good future ahead of them, both in India and in Bangladesh.
The Kayastha 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.
Bangladesh is a country that allows few opportunities to share the gospel, even with the Hindu minorities like the Kayasthas. Within Bangladesh's Hindu communities, the Kayasthas have high prestige. This could easily give them the false impression that they do not need a savior to save them from sin. It will take believers from a high-status background to gain a hearing among these educated Hindus. The Lord will need to raise up ambassadors for Christ who will walk in the fruit of the Holy Spirit and have enough patience and love for the Kayasthas to stay with them until they have their own disciple making movement.
* Scripture Prayers for the Kayastha (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh.
There are no known followers of Christ among the Kayasthas in Bangladesh. Furthermore, there are few believers who speak Bengali as their first language in both India and Bangladesh. Pray for the Holy Spirit to intervene in their community in such a way that it is clear that only Jesus Christ is worthy of their undivided devotion. Pray for the Lord to make his presence known among the Hindu Kayasthas in Bangladesh. Pray for the Kayasthas in Bangladesh to experience and share the blessings of Christ. Pray for gratitude to the one who gives life. Pray for the right workers to go to the Kayasthas in Bangladesh.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2009-10-03 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2019-06-27 |
People Name General | Kayastha (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Kayastha (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | kay-AHS-tah |
Population this Country | 1,445,000 |
Population all Countries | 8,468,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 29 |
Alternate Names | Kact; Kaiath; Kait; Kaith; Karan; Kast; Kastha; Kayashtha; Kayasth; Kayath; Lal; Lala; Lalli; कायस्ता (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 17124 |
ROP3 Code | 112470 |
Country | Bangladesh | |||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||
Persecution Rank | 29 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||
Total States on file | 7 | |||||||||
Largest States |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | Bangladesh |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 29 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 7 |
Chittagong 690,000 | |
Dhaka 420,000 | |
Sylhet 209,000 | |
Khulna 194,000 | |
Barisal 151,000 | |
Rangpur 52,000 | |
Rajshahi 47,000 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Bengali (1,105,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 6 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bengali (1,105,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 6 |
Secondary Languages | |
Chittagonian 470,000 | |
Sylheti 171,000 | |
Bishnupuriya 8,900 | |
Assamese 2,900 | |
Kok Borok 2,400 | |
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 (1809-2016) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Online Audio Scripture |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Film / Video | Following Jesus video |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Bengali |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels |
Film / Video | Magdalena video |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime |
Film / Video | Rivka video |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 3 - Woman at the Well |
Film / Video | The Savior 8 - Jesus is Risen |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.04 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.96 %
|
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. |