Chamar (Hindu traditions) 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 Chamar people are also known as Bhambi, Asadaru, Khalpa, Machigar, Mochi, and Rohit. The origins of the name "chamar" come from their leather work.

The Chamar people live primarily in India's states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. Smaller numbers live all over India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In traditional Hinduism, those who deal with "dead" matter are among the low status communities. This is especially true for those who work with leather, which comes from the "holy" cow. The Chamar's main occupation is manufacturing shoes and chappals from finished leather. Chamars are among the largest of the low class communities in the Hindu world and have very low status. This low status in Indian-Hindu tradition makes them undesirable and unworthy of any sort of consideration or provision by society. This translates into frequent joblessness, lack of education and lifelong poverty. Traditional upper caste members would avoid their shadow, though this would be rare today.

Some are engaged in daily-wage labor and petty business. Chamar Women are also involved in agricultural work, animal husbandry and various economic activities.

The Chamar practice monogamy in marriage. Dowry is largely prevalent and is paid in cash. They allow remarriage for widowers but not for the widows. The dead body of a bachelor is buried lying on its back with the head facing the south, whereas others are cremated, and their mortal remains are immersed in sacred water. They offer rice balls to the dead and to ancestors on the tenth day after death.


The religious system is a key part of their identity, leaving no room for Jesus Christ.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Chamar are Hindu. They belong to the Shiva and Bhagvat sects. Their deities include Bahiroba, Janai, Kandova of Jejori and Bhawani of Tuljapur. They follow the spiritual teachings of Ravidas. Chamars recite mythological tales and sing songs from the religious epics. They celebrate the festivals such as Diwali, Panchami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Kartik, Holi and Hannami.


What Are Their Needs?

There is a slightly higher degree of responsiveness to the gospel among the Chamars than among other low class communities. There is a church planting movement underway among Chamars in several districts across India, but they are far from unreached. It will take many workers to get the gospel to all Chamar communities throughout India.


Prayer Points

Pray for God to send hundreds of Christian workers among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.

Pray for the Chamar people to break through the caste barrier and be accepted by other communities.

Pray that these Chamar believers will be salt and light to Chamar communities throughout India.

Pray that church planting will multiply across all Chamar communities.


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


References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar. Copyrighted © Used with permission

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamar

https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/chamars


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Chamar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Chamar (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation chah-MAR
Alternate Names Ahirwar; Arya; Asadaro; Asodi; Bagri; Bhambi; Bola; Budhan; Chamadollu; Chamana; Chambada; Chambhar. Moci; Chamehar; Chamling; Changar; Chanial; Charmakar Rishi; Chembadi; Chemidi; Chitrakar; Das; Dhakaro; Dhekaru; Dhusia; Dohar; Dohare; Gangaputrulu; Golia; Haralayya; Harijan; Jaiswar; Jata Chamar; Jatav; Jatia; Jatia Chamar; Khalpa; Kureel; Laskaria Raigar; Lingayat; Machigar; Mehtar; Mochi; Moci; Mocia; Muchia; Muci; Natarlu; Parvatharaja kulam; Raidasi; Raigar; Raighar; Ram; Ramdasi; Raudari; Ravidasi; Regar; Rehgar; Rohit; Ruidas; Shankhwar; Sindhi Jatia; चामर (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 54,313,000
Population all Countries 54,821,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1086
People ID 16561
ROP3 Code 111752
ROP25 Code 301655
ROP25 Name Chamar
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 31
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
25,785,000
Madhya Pradesh
6,203,000
Bihar
5,631,000
Rajasthan
2,825,000
Haryana
2,755,000
Maharashtra
1,671,000
Chhattisgarh
1,470,000
West Bengal
1,318,000
Gujarat
1,252,000
Delhi
1,212,000
Jharkhand
1,002,000
Karnataka
719,000
Punjab
705,000
Uttarakhand
637,000
Himachal Pradesh
512,000
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 31  (only 20 largest shown)
  Uttar Pradesh 25,785,000
  Madhya Pradesh 6,203,000
  Bihar 5,631,000
  Rajasthan 2,825,000
  Haryana 2,755,000
  Maharashtra 1,671,000
  Chhattisgarh 1,470,000
  West Bengal 1,318,000
  Gujarat 1,252,000
  Delhi 1,212,000
  Jharkhand 1,002,000
  Karnataka 719,000
  Punjab 705,000
  Uttarakhand 637,000
  Himachal Pradesh 512,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.54 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.21 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.25 %
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 (32,267,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 60
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhojpuri
4,057,000
Awadhi
1,024,000
Gujarati
912,000
Bengali
903,000
Chhattisgarhi
787,000
Kanauji
762,000
Punjabi, Eastern
734,000
Marathi
695,000
Kannada
516,000
Bundeli
451,000
Maithili
336,000
Dhundari
316,000
Haryanvi
308,000
Marwari
184,000
Garhwali
181,000
Primary Language Hindi (32,267,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 60
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhojpuri 4,057,000
  Awadhi 1,024,000
  Gujarati 912,000
  Bengali 903,000
  Chhattisgarhi 787,000
  Kanauji 762,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 734,000
  Marathi 695,000
  Kannada 516,000
  Bundeli 451,000
  Maithili 336,000
  Dhundari 316,000
  Haryanvi 308,000
  Marwari 184,000
  Garhwali 181,000
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)
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 Anonymous 
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.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024