Hindu Valmiki 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

All Valmiki claim to be descendants of Valmiki, an author of the Ramayana. Some of the Valmiki living in the Punjab have converted to Sikhism. Some Valmiki became Muslims during the Mogul Period.
In colonial times, the Valmiki were known as a martial (military) caste. Many of them found employment in the British Army. Today Valmiki continue to serve in the Pakistani Armed Forces.
The primary languages of the Valmiki of Pakistan are Saraiki, Western Punjabi and Sindhi. There are few in any believers among the Valmiki in either India or Pakistan.
The vast majority of the Hindu Valmiki people live in India. Much smaller populations live in Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In India and Pakistan most Valmiki occupy a lower place in society. Besides serving in the military, Valmiki labor as streetsweepers, watchmen, toilet cleaners, and as farm workers. The Valmiki generally do not own the land they work on. Some Valmiki have become educated and work in politics, teaching and government positions.
The Valmiki tend to marry within their group. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young couple. Girls marry in their teens while boys are a few years older. Marriage to one spouse is the norm among the Valmiki. Boys receive at least an elementary education while girls often quit school after a few years to help their mother with domestic responsibilities.
Rural Valmiki often lack access to modern medicine, so their life expectancy is less than 60 years. Valmiki parents have many children. Unfortunately, many children die before reaching the age of ten. Their main foods are rice, vegetable and lentils. Hindu Valmiki eat meat except for beef. They also refrain from eating pork as to not offend their Muslim neighbors.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Valmiki people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, 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 as Christians do. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.
Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like 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.


What Are Their Needs?

The Valmiki need new job skills so they can improve their place in society. Valmiki women need to improve their literacy levels. Rural Valmiki would benefit by having access to modern medicine. Most of all, Valmiki must hear and respond to the good news about Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to send anointed workers to the Valmiki of Pakistan and India.
Pray that the leaders among the Valmiki would be open to hearing the gospel.
Pray that the Valmiki would be led by the Holy Spirit to listen to Christian radio programs.
Pray for a movement to Christ among the Valmiki this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Valmiki (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valmiki_caste
https://dbpedia.org/page/Valmiki_caste
https://www.quora.com/In-which-caste-does-Valmiki-fall-under


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Valmiki (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Valmiki (Hindu traditions)
Natural Name Hindu Valmiki
Pronunciation wahl-MEE-kee
Alternate Names Balmik; Balmiki; Bhangi; Byada; Churhra; Hair; Hari; Malkana Mehtar; Mehtar; Mehtor
Population this Country 5,798,000
Population all Countries 5,934,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 116
People ID 22348
ROP3 Code 119347
ROP25 Code 308545
ROP25 Name Valmiki / Balmiki (SC)
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 30
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
1,569,000
Haryana
1,091,000
Punjab
741,000
Rajasthan
552,000
Gujarat
524,000
Madhya Pradesh
425,000
Maharashtra
253,000
Bihar
243,000
Uttarakhand
135,000
Chandigarh
92,000
Jharkhand
66,000
Himachal Pradesh
38,000
Chhattisgarh
22,000
Delhi
14,000
Jammu and Kashmir
8,400
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 30  (only 20 largest shown)
  Uttar Pradesh 1,569,000
  Haryana 1,091,000
  Punjab 741,000
  Rajasthan 552,000
  Gujarat 524,000
  Madhya Pradesh 425,000
  Maharashtra 253,000
  Bihar 243,000
  Uttarakhand 135,000
  Chandigarh 92,000
  Jharkhand 66,000
  Himachal Pradesh 38,000
  Chhattisgarh 22,000
  Delhi 14,000
  Jammu and Kashmir 8,400
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 (3,058,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 51
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Punjabi, Eastern
734,000
Gujarati
343,000
Haryanvi
102,000
Marathi
79,000
Marwari
69,000
Dhundari
68,000
Kanauji
66,000
Awadhi
66,000
Bhojpuri
32,000
Bagri
28,000
Shekhawati
27,000
Maithili
25,000
Bundeli
24,000
Garhwali
22,000
Kumaoni
17,000
Primary Language Hindi (3,058,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 51
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Punjabi, Eastern 734,000
  Gujarati 343,000
  Haryanvi 102,000
  Marathi 79,000
  Marwari 69,000
  Dhundari 68,000
  Kanauji 66,000
  Awadhi 66,000
  Bhojpuri 32,000
  Bagri 28,000
  Shekhawati 27,000
  Maithili 25,000
  Bundeli 24,000
  Garhwali 22,000
  Kumaoni 17,000
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  (1818-2022)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
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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
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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 Copyrighted © 2024  Aathi94 - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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