Bazigar (Hindu traditions) 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

The HJindu Bazigar or Goaar live across many areas of India. Their name comes from the Urdu word "bazi" which means acrobat. The traditional occupation of the Bazigar was that of being acrobats, dancers, musicians, jugglers and wrestlers. The Bazigar would travel from village to village. They would hire themselves out as farm agricultural laborers. They would also perform at festivals and holidays as dancers, drummers and acrobats. They would perform for Hindu, Muslim and Sikh villages.

Today less than one out of five Bazigars engage in the itinerate lifestyle. Most have settled down and work in agriculture. They still like to dance, sing, play music and do feats of strength and agility. The Bazigars have been classified as a Scheduled Caste due to their low level of education. In 1981, only 11% of the Bazigar could read and write. Illiteracy continues to be a problem for them today.

The primary languages of the Bazigar are Telugu, Hindi, Eastern Punjabi and Tamil. They also speak other regional Indian languages.


Where Are they Located?

The Hindu Bazigar mostly live in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Haryana.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Bazigar now work in agriculture as laborers. They also work as shopkeepers, public officials and grocers. They raise goats and sheep for their meat and milk. Theyt do not eat beef or pork. Many Bazigar still have musical and athletic skills, which they perform at important family events and holidays.

The Bazigar marry within their community. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit property with the eldest son gaining possession of the family home. Caste councils promote their interests and settle legal disputes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Bazigar practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Bazigar visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Bazigar people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.

There are small groups of Muslim and Sikh Bazigars


What Are Their Needs?

The Bazigar need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need help in educating their children and in learning new job skills. They need to see Christianity lived out before them in practical ways.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord sends workers to the Bazigar to tell them about Jesus and His love for them.
Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Bazigar families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray the Bazigar people will understand that Jesus desires to bless their families and communities, not harm them.


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


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazigar
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.692.2886&rep=rep1&type=pdf


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Bazigar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Bazigar (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Bajgi; Bajikar; Bajkar; Bazigar; Bejkar; Harijan; Jamuni; Madari; Medari; Mehdri; Modak; Nat; Qalandar; Shilpkar Bajgi; Sirkiband; Sirkibaz; बाज़ीगर (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 370,000
Population all Countries 370,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
PeopleID3 16351
ROP3 Code 111489
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 15
Largest States
Punjab
175,000
Haryana
143,000
Rajasthan
37,000
Odisha
4,700
Maharashtra
4,400
Himachal Pradesh
2,700
Chandigarh
1,900
Delhi
300
West Bengal
300
Gujarat
300
Madhya Pradesh
200
Uttarakhand
200
Chhattisgarh
200
Uttar Pradesh
200
Andaman and Nicobar
90
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 15
  Punjab 175,000
  Haryana 143,000
  Rajasthan 37,000
  Odisha 4,700
  Maharashtra 4,400
  Himachal Pradesh 2,700
  Chandigarh 1,900
  Delhi 300
  West Bengal 300
  Gujarat 300
  Madhya Pradesh 200
  Uttarakhand 200
  Chhattisgarh 200
  Uttar Pradesh 200
  Andaman and Nicobar 90
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.06 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.50 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.44 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (144,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
Hindi
139,000
Haryanvi
13,000
Odia
4,200
Bazigar
3,700
Marwari (India)
3,600
Shekhawati
1,000
Kangri
900
Konkani
700
Marathi
600
Wagdi
400
Bengali
200
Gujarati
200
Chhattisgarhi
100
Bilaspuri
80
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (144,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 139,000
  Haryanvi 13,000
  Odia 4,200
  Bazigar 3,700
  Marwari (India) 3,600
  Shekhawati 1,000
  Kangri 900
  Konkani 700
  Marathi 600
  Wagdi 400
  Bengali 200
  Gujarati 200
  Chhattisgarhi 100
  Bilaspuri 80
People Groups Speaking Punjabi, Eastern

Primary Language:  Punjabi, Eastern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1818-1954)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1815-2011)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1959-2021)
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Punjabi, Eastern Jesus Film Project
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Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible App: Punjabi Bible (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬਾਈਬਲ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Punjabi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Punjabi) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Punjabi Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Punjabi, Eastern Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
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 David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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