The Kahar or Kahal people have several stories about the deriving of their name. It is said, by some anthropologists, that the name comes from the combination of the words kandh, meaning 'shoulder' and ahar, meaning 'food.' Their traditional work has been as palanquin (a seat carried between poles on the shoulder) or water carriers.
Most Kahar clans are Hindu but there are many Muslim Kahar in Bangladesh, Nepal and India.
Today many of the Kahar can be found to have many occupations. Some are small businessman, shop keepers or food vendors. In the rural areas they can be found as cultivators, laborers or rickshaw-pullers.
The people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.
In general, the Kahar are favorable to having their children attend school. This may be an avenue of ministry and assistance to the community.
Pray that some from the Kahar would hear and come to know the name of Jesus.
There are no known workers among this Muslim group in Nepal or Bangladesh. Pray for workers.
Pray for them to fully understand and cherish the name of Jesus Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Kahar (Muslim traditions) in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Kahar (Muslim traditions) |
People Name in Country | Kahar (Muslim traditions) |
Pronunciation | kah-HAR |
Alternate Names | Chandrabansi; Kamkar; Kanhar; Kuhara; Ramani; Rawani; कहर (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 98,000 |
Population all Countries | 250,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 17579 |
ROP3 Code | 113006 |
ROP25 Code | 303488 |
ROP25 Name | Kahar |
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 | 8 | |||||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 8 |
Uttar Pradesh 68,000 | |
West Bengal 20,000 | |
Bihar 7,700 | |
Uttarakhand 1,600 | |
Haryana 600 | |
Punjab 400 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 20 | |
Chandigarh 10 | |
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 (64,000 speakers) | |||||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||
Total Languages | 10 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (64,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 10 |
Secondary Languages | |
Bengali 16,000 | |
Bhojpuri 800 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 500 | |
Bundeli 400 | |
Maithili 300 | |
Awadhi 80 | |
Magahi 80 | |
Kumaoni 40 | |
Garhwali 10 | |
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) |
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 |
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. |