Lohar (Muslim traditions) 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

Lohar people of Bangladesh are nomadic smiths who travel in to sell their goods. They are descendants of high-caste weapon makers of the Mewar Kingdom in India. Unfortunately, they became poor nomads when the kingdom fell in 1568, and they remain poor today. Although they are nomads, most Lohar people live in the Indian state of Rajasthan. There are also Lohar people in other South Asian countries including Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Lohar people lead difficult lives. Although they work hard, they live in extreme poverty. This is partly because most people prefer to buy goods from stores and factories, not handmade items, which are more expensive and are of poorer quality. Also, many cannot read or write because of the nomadic lifestyle they lead; few have regular access to school. They are despised because of the Hindu caste system. There are stereotypes about nomads, such as the idea that they are all thieves or corrupt, even though they generally work up to 14 hours a day.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Unlike the Muslim majority in Bangladesh, the Lohar people are mostly Hindus. 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 needed benefits.


What Are Their Needs?

Their most dire need is to know the love of God. They are low-caste and are often misunderstood because of stereotypes. They are the perfect example of a people in need of God's healing touch. They need either more people to buy from them or become sedentary (the opposite of nomadic, meaning they settle down in one place) and take up an entire other career, which would be difficult since so few of them (or maybe even none) have had the chance to go to school.


Prayer Points

Pray that their business success increases, or, if it is God's will that they become sedentary, that they receive the education they need. Pray that more audio and video resources already existing in Hindi (their spoken language) will be made available to them since very few can read or write. Pray that missionaries would go to Lohar people in Bangladesh and show them that God shows no favoritism. He accepts all people! Above all, pray for their hearts; pray for them to be open to Christ and his love.


Scripture Prayers for the Lohar (Muslim traditions) in Bangladesh.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Lohar (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Lohar (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation LOW-har
Alternate Names Battarha; Dodai; Dodo; Kamar; Kumhar; Lohandia; Loharia; Lonar; Luhar; Luharani; Mistri; Nar; Panchal; Raj; Raj Mistri; Ramgarhia; Sandhan; Sejwani; Silpkar; Sri Panchal; Thawai; Viswabrahma; Viswakarma; लोहार (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 44,000
Population all Countries 3,007,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17609
ROP3 Code 113040
ROP25 Code 304767
ROP25 Name Lohar
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 7
Largest States
Chittagong
12,000
Dhaka
9,100
Rangpur
7,900
Khulna
6,900
Rajshahi
3,000
Barisal
2,800
Sylhet
2,700
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 7
  Chittagong 12,000
  Dhaka 9,100
  Rangpur 7,900
  Khulna 6,900
  Rajshahi 3,000
  Barisal 2,800
  Sylhet 2,700
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 Bangladesh census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (36,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Chittagonian
6,400
Sylheti
2,400
Primary Language Bengali (36,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Chittagonian 6,400
  Sylheti 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  (1809-2022)
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 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 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
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 World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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
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 (Representative photo)
Gurdeepdali - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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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