The name of this community is derived from the word sona meaning gold, and the people who work with gold are called Sunar or Sonar. Traditionally they are goldsmiths, but with the availability of better educational facilities the Sonar have become inclined toward education. Sonar goldsmiths hold an essential role in traditional Hindu weddings in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Dowries are given in the form of gold jewelry, and the bride literally wears her worldly possessions as products made by the Sonars. Even if a Sonar is not present at a wedding, their presence is felt by everyone who sees the bride decked out in his beautiful golden artwork.
There are Sonar communities in most South Asian countries, including Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, though they are concentrated in India.
Though the Sonar community is associated with goldsmithing, they deal with other aspects of the jewelry business as well, no matter what South Asian country they reside. Some are diamond cutters while others design beautiful jewelry or idols. As you would imagine, they are a wealthy community. Some are money lenders. The less fortunate among them sell books or stationery or auto parts.
The Sonars are Hindus who worship whichever god they believe will bring them good luck and prosperity. Some are probably more philosophical in their spiritual lives.
Like the church in Laodicea mentioned in Rev 3:14-22, the Sonar community needs to understand the importance of spiritual riches that only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
* Scripture Prayers for the Sonar (Hindu traditions) in India.
Pray for families of Sonar believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches. Pray for a chain reaction of Sonar families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others. Pray for grace and truth expanding into the entire Sonar society as all believers learn to love others. Pray that churches and believers will bless their entire people group in such a way that God's love will change the Sonar people like yeast changes dough.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Sonar (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Sonar (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | suh-NAR |
Population this Country | 8,117,000 |
Population all Countries | 8,247,000 |
Total Countries | 5 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 3 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 162 |
Alternate Names | Agsali; Aksali; Ashraf; Ausala; Chaudhari; Gorkha; Hemkar; Jangar; Jargar; Kamsala; Kapila; Karai; Khakhar; Khatri; Konkar; Korai; Maipotra; Mair; Nepali; Niaria; Patni; Pattar; Potdar; Sanur; Saraf; Sarat; Sawrnakar; Sharif; Sheriff; Soanri Bania; Sonagara; Sonar; Sonari Bania; Soni; Soni Hahajan; Sonkar; Sonnari; Sunar; Suni; Sunia; Suniar; Suniyara; Sunnari; Suvarnakar; Suvarnkar; Swarankar; Swarnakar; Tank; Verma; Zagar; Zargar; सोनार (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 18150 |
ROP3 Code | 113659 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 34 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 34 (only 20 largest shown) |
Maharashtra 1,327,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh 1,154,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 765,000 | |
Bihar 744,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 574,000 | |
Telangana 470,000 | |
Rajasthan 457,000 | |
West Bengal 407,000 | |
Gujarat 368,000 | |
Tamil Nadu 313,000 | |
Karnataka 282,000 | |
Haryana 187,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 109,000 | |
Punjab 100,000 | |
Delhi 94,000 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Hindi (2,968,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 61 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (2,968,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 61 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Telugu 1,247,000 | |
Marathi 892,000 | |
Gujarati 376,000 | |
Bengali 352,000 | |
Tamil 343,000 | |
Bhojpuri 289,000 | |
Kannada 234,000 | |
Marwari 171,000 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 108,000 | |
Konkani 102,000 | |
Chhattisgarhi 72,000 | |
Odia 67,000 | |
Awadhi 65,000 | |
Dhundari 46,000 | |
Maithili 44,000 | |
People Groups | Speaking Hindi |
Primary Language: Hindi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1806-1962) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1811-1998) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1835-2012) |
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 | DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online Audio Scripture |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
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 | A Beautiful Hope (EngSub) |
Film / Video | Coconuts |
Film / Video | Creation to Christ |
Film / Video | Following Jesus video |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Hindi |
Film / Video | Love letter to you from scripture |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.16 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.46 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.39 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source | Steve Evans - Flickr 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. Read more |