The Pinjara (Pinja, Penja, Bahna or Dhunia) derive their name from the term pinjala meaning 'cotton weaver.' Their traditional occupation is naturally one of cleaning and reeling cotton to make pillows, quilts or even mattresses. Most likely the Muslim Pinjara converted to Islam about 500 years ago during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb.
The Pinjara can today be found in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They live in over 500 districts of India and Nepal and speak more than a dozen different languages depending on their location. The Pinjara speak primarily Bhojpuri, Nepali, Maithili and Urdu.
The Pinjara are not vegetarian though do not eat pork. They occupy a higher than unclean status and can be found as both skilled and unskilled workers.
Although they are well over 90% Muslim, the Pinjara can be found to keep Hindu festivals, even making vows to Hindu gods. Pinjara are sometimes looked down on religiously because of their mixture of Islam and Hinduism beliefs.
Very little ministry has been focused on the Pinjara. Many Urdu resources are available although there is a severe lack of workers to this sizable Muslim group.
Pray the hearts of the Pinjara people in Nepal would be stirred to hunger after God, to drink of living water.
Pray for family-based Disciple Making Movements to soon transform Pinjara society, blessing them spiritually and economically.
Pray for the Lord to move in the hearts of believers to give up their own rights and sacrifice their lives to see the Pinjara people blessed by the work of Jesus Christ, the only savior.
Scripture Prayers for the Pinjara in Nepal.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Pinjara |
People Name in Country | Pinjara |
Pronunciation |
pin-JAR-ah
|
Alternate Names | Bahana; Bahna; Behana; Behna; Daffali; Dhunia; Dhunkar; Kahrar; Laliwala; Mansoor; Mansoori; Nadaf; Naddaf; Noor; Panjara; Panjora; Panjwara; Penja; Pinara; Pinja; Pinjali; Pinjar; Pinjari; Pinjia; Punji; Shaikh Mansoor; Sheikh Monsoori; Soria; Sulia; Tai; पिंजरा |
Population this Country | 20,000 |
Population all Countries | 4,178,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 17877 |
ROP3 Code | 113353 |
ROP25 Code | 306724 |
ROP25 Name | Pinjara |
Country | Nepal | ||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||||||||||||
Location in Country | Districts of Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, and Banke. Source: www.ethnologue.com | ||||||||||||
Total States on file | 11 | ||||||||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Districts of Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, and Banke.. Source: www.ethnologue.com |
Total States | 11 |
Narayani 6,100 | |
Bheri 3,800 | |
Lumbini 3,400 | |
Janakpur 3,200 | |
Sagarmatha 1,500 | |
Kosi 900 | |
Bagmati 500 | |
Mechi 500 | |
Gandaki 300 | |
Rapti 100 | |
Seti 100 | |
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 Nepal census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Urdu (10,000 speakers) | |||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 4 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (10,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 4 |
Secondary Languages | |
Bhojpuri 4,600 | |
Maithili 2,500 | |
Nepali 200 | |
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 |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
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. |