The Mal are a community known as a Scheduled Tribe, which gives them low status among Hindus. Their name comes from the Sanscrit word for "wrestler." They are divided into about five sub-castes, and many clans. Though there are small communities of them in Bangladesh and Nepal, most live in eastern India.
Most are agricultural laborers with no land of their own, although they are also known for being watchmen or gatekeepers. Some sell wood and work as laborers in road construction and forests. The Mal marry only within their own people group. The marriage symbols for women are vermilion and iron bangles.
Every Mal is a Hindu, and this people group celebrates its own festivals. Their form of Hinduism has become tied to the Mal identity. Hinduism is the ancient religion throughout South Asia. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of India and Nepal, 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. Other Hindus are philosophical.
An ample supply of Christian resources has been available to them, but the Mal have a low literacy level, so the gospel must be presented orally. Audio and film presentations are available. There is a need for piercing intercessory prayer to break through the spiritual barriers that keep the Mal people from the blessings of Jesus Christ.
* Scripture Prayers for the Mal (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh.
Pray for the Lord to provide for the physical needs of the Mal people in Bangladesh as a testimony of his power and love. Pray the Lord will send workers to tell them about Jesus. Pray he will prepare them for this, and that they will be given understanding.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Mal (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Mal (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | mahl |
Population this Country | 22,000 |
Population all Countries | 2,078,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Malia; Malla; माल (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 17424 |
ROP3 Code | 112825 |
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 | 6 | ||||||
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 | 6 |
Chittagong 7,000 | |
Rangpur 5,300 | |
Dhaka 4,600 | |
Rajshahi 2,300 | |
Khulna 2,300 | |
Barisal 500 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Bengali (22,000 speakers) | |||
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 4 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bengali (22,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 4 |
Secondary Languages | |
Chittagonian 200 | |
Kok Borok 100 | |
Sylheti 100 | |
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 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. |