Bansphor (Muslim traditions) 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 Musilm Bansphors or Basors are converts from Hinduism. The time and circumstances of their conversion is unclear. The large majority of Bansphors continue in the Hindu faith. The word Bansphor means "bamboo splitter" in Hindi.
The Bansphors reside in northern India. They are a Scheduled Caste, which means they are eligible for reserved places in government work and universities. They speak Urdu, Awahdi and Khari Boli.


Where Are they Located?

The Bansphors live in the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The majority of the Muslim Bansphors continue in their traditional job of making bamboo furniture and household items. Some also work as landless agricultural laborers. Some young educated Bansphors have moved to cities and work in government and business careers. Most Bansphors still live in villages. The Bansphors fall witin the Sudra caste, The Sudra are the lowest of the four main castes of Hinduism. The Bansphors sell their bamboo items at town markets and shops.

The Muslim Bansphors marry within their group. They often marry cousins. Families arrange the marriages. They tend to practice adult marriage rather than child marriage. Monogamy or marriage to one spouse in the general rule while polygamy or a husband having more than one wife is accepted.

The Bansphor sons inherit property from their parents. They live in extended families near or with the husband's parents.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Muslim Bansphors are Sunnis Muslims, the largest group within Islam. Along with Islam, they engage in folk religious practices like appeasing evil spirits.

As Sunnis the Bansphor celebrate Muslim holidays such as Eid Al-Fitr, the end of the fast of Ramadan, and Eid Al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bansphors need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They would benefit by having more vocational choices than making bamboo items and working as farm laborers. As a poorer group in Indian society, they need access to modern medicine and education.


Prayer Points

Pray the Bansphors would make another religious conversion, this time to become followers of Jesus Christ.
Pray that other Muslim background Indian Christians would reach out to the Bansphors.
Pray the Lord would cause many Bansphor to believe in Christ and that He would plant a Bible believing church in the Muslim Bansphor community.


Scripture Prayers for the Bansphor (Muslim traditions) in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Bansphor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bansphor
www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/basor/


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Bansphor (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Bansphor (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names बंसफोर (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 500
Population all Countries 800
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17483
ROP3 Code 112895
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 2
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
400
Uttarakhand
90
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 2
  Uttar Pradesh 400
  Uttarakhand 90
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (500 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Urdu (500 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Urdu

Primary Language:  Urdu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1747-1894)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1758-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1843-2022)
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 Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Online New Testament Faith Comes by Hearing
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio 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 Urdu 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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel  
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.