Tharu in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Traditionally the Tharu tribe lived in the forests of central India where they hunted wild game, fished and gathered food. They also practiced agriculture. They would clear a plot and farm it until the land became unproductive, then repeat the process elsewhere.

They have their own language called Tharu or Tharuhati. Most live in Nepal’s Terai region, but some are in India where they reside in the states of West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Tharu have their own forms of folk music, dancing and traditions. They build their homes from bamboo and mud. Most of their food involves rice, lentils and vegetables. They are not vegetarian, however.

With deforestation, the Tharu people have had to leave the forests and adapt to a new lifestyle. This usually involves being a day laborer or a small time farmer. They have organized their communities to fight back against being displaced.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They have their own gods and follow a Bharra (shaman). Besides the Bharra, who treats their diseases, the village headman, bhalamansa, and the Desi-Mahajan—a moneylender—are important people within the village.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tharu people need to be given the chance to hear the life-changing gospel so they can enjoy life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Tharu people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.

Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly.

Pray for the spiritual lives of the Tharu people to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Tharu in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tharu
People Name in Country Tharu
Pronunciation TAH-roo
Alternate Names Kathoriya; Kathoriya Tharu; Mahatos; Mahatu; Tharu Rana; थारू
Population this Country 522,000
Population all Countries 2,589,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 10
PeopleID3 15464
ROP3 Code 110011
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 22
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Bihar
180,000
Uttar Pradesh
119,000
Uttarakhand
103,000
Assam
65,000
West Bengal
31,000
Sikkim
17,000
Arunachal Pradesh
2,700
Manipur
1,000
Meghalaya
700
Maharashtra
500
Andhra Pradesh
500
Madhya Pradesh
400
Himachal Pradesh
200
Jharkhand
200
Telangana
70
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 22  (only 20 largest shown)
  Bihar 180,000
  Uttar Pradesh 119,000
  Uttarakhand 103,000
  Assam 65,000
  West Bengal 31,000
  Sikkim 17,000
  Arunachal Pradesh 2,700
  Manipur 1,000
  Meghalaya 700
  Maharashtra 500
  Andhra Pradesh 500
  Madhya Pradesh 400
  Himachal Pradesh 200
  Jharkhand 200
  Telangana 70
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.09 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.53 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.05 %
Islam
0.26 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.05 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bhojpuri (159,000 speakers)
Language Code bho   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 36
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
106,000
Nepali
88,000
Tharu, Kathariya
36,000
Tharu, Rana
8,900
Buksa
6,300
Bengali
3,300
Awadhi
2,500
Tai Long
1,000
Maithili
600
Chin, Thado
200
Garhwali
100
Urdu
80
Tharu, Mid-Eastern
70
Punjabi, Eastern
60
Magahi
50
Primary Language Bhojpuri (159,000 speakers)
Language Code bho   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 36
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 106,000
  Nepali 88,000
  Tharu, Kathariya 36,000
  Tharu, Rana 8,900
  Buksa 6,300
  Bengali 3,300
  Awadhi 2,500
  Tai Long 1,000
  Maithili 600
  Chin, Thado 200
  Garhwali 100
  Urdu 80
  Tharu, Mid-Eastern 70
  Punjabi, Eastern 60
  Magahi 50
People Groups Speaking Bhojpuri

Primary Language:  Bhojpuri

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1911-1982)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1998-2007)
Bible-Complete No
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bhojpuri Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
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General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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
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General Zume Resources Zume Project
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Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
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Mobile App iOS Bible app: Bhojpuri YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Bhojpuri Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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.


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