Dhingar Gadaria in India

The Dhingar Gadaria have only been reported 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 name Gadaria means "one who tends sheep." Taking care of and rearing sheep and goats has been the traditional occupation of the Gadaria people of north India for hundreds of years. A sub-group of the larger Gadaria peoples are the Dhingar Gadaria who live in Uttar Pradesh and other Indian states. Their primary language is Hindi. They also speak the languages of the areas where they live. A revised copy of the Hindi Bible became available in 2012. The Dhingar are a mostly oral culture so the gospel must be presented to them in audio and visual form.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today most Dhingar Gadaria still follow the profession of their ancestors, the herding sheep and goats. They sell the animals, wool, hides, milk, and meat to purchase things that they cannot make for themselves. Women also weave woolen blankets to sell. Many Dhingar own small or medium size plots of land where they grow vegetables and fruit. Their women help the men with the animals and grow the crops along with taking care of the children. Many Gadaria children quit school early to help their parents earn a living. Some of the Dhingar have left their traditional occupation and have become construction and factory workers. Some educated Gadaria work for the government and teach for a living. The Dhingar Gadaria marry within their group but not within the same village. Marriage to one spouse is the norm although a man may take another wife if his first wife is unable to have children. Sons inherit the property of their father. They use both modern and traditional medicines. Each village has a shaman or village priest who gives out medical remedies and helps protect the Dhingar from "evil spirits."


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Dhingar Gadaria practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. The Hinduism of the Dhingar is mixed with animism or the belief in spirits inhabiting the objects of nature. The Dhingar give special reverence to Vishnu and his avatars Krishna and Rama. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Dhingar visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hope of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do with their heavenly Father. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Dhingar people are 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. The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories. The lowest communities are outside of the caste system. The Dhingar Gadaria consider themselves to be Vaishyas but other Hindus see them as the working caste.


What Are Their Needs?

Rural Dhingar need good schools for their children. The villages where the Dhingar live may not have access to modern medicine clean water or electricity. Most of all, the Dhingar need to hear and understand the gospel. Jesus is much more than another Hindu god or guru. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send workers to the Dhingar Gadaria to meet their spiritual and physical needs. Pray that Dhingar parents are able to adequately provide for their children. Pray for Dhingar families and communities to discover and embrace the free gift of life found by trusting Christ and His finished work. Ask the Lord to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among the Dhingar Gadaria in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Gadaria Dhingar in India.


References

https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/gadaria/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadaria  https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/now-gadaria-in-scheduled-caste-category-109862     


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Gadaria Dhingar
People Name in Country Gadaria Dhingar
Natural Name Dhingar Gadaria
Alternate Names Gara; Garha
Population this Country 1,420,000
Population all Countries 1,420,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 28
People ID 21718
ROP3 Code 118506
ROP25 Code 302579
ROP25 Name Gadaria
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 6
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
1,294,000
Madhya Pradesh
95,000
Chhattisgarh
20,000
Uttarakhand
8,300
Bihar
2,700
Maharashtra
200
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 6
  Uttar Pradesh 1,294,000
  Madhya Pradesh 95,000
  Chhattisgarh 20,000
  Uttarakhand 8,300
  Bihar 2,700
  Maharashtra 200
Website South Asia Peoples
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (959,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Awadhi
111,000
Kanauji
53,000
Bhojpuri
35,000
Bundeli
11,000
Chhattisgarhi
10,000
Malvi
9,200
Braj Bhasha
4,000
Kumaoni
2,900
Garhwali
1,900
Haryanvi
Primary Language Hindi (959,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Awadhi 111,000
  Kanauji 53,000
  Bhojpuri 35,000
  Bundeli 11,000
  Chhattisgarhi 10,000
  Malvi 9,200
  Braj Bhasha 4,000
  Kumaoni 2,900
  Garhwali 1,900
  Haryanvi
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  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 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 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)
Yann Forget - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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