Beldar (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 word Beldar is derived from two words; "bel" meaning a digging instrument, and "dar" referring to the person who handles it. They are associated with digging and carrying soil in the context of agriculture. They have also been noted for making bricks and clearing agricultural land.


Where Are they Located?

They live in Madhya Pradesh, but some live in Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal. A smaller number are further east in Bangladesh or further north in Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Though fewer in number, there are Beldars who are engaged in animal husbandry, small business, industrial work and unskilled labor. Some produce and sell an alcoholic drink. Alcoholism and drug addiction is common among the Beldars. There are Beldars that are doing better economically in major cities. The Beldar people have their own folk songs and folk-tales. Though they speak in the Baghelkandi dialect at home, most of them also speak Bengali in Bangladesh.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindus. After cremating their dead, they worship the deceased's spirit a year later.


What Are Their Needs?

They perceive themselves as part of a lower caste, and others perceive them as being in this category as well. This belief holds them back socially and economically. The few Christian believers among them live in India, not Bangladesh.


Prayer Points

Pray for Indian missionaries to produce stories and songs in the Beldar traditions that will lead them to seek Jesus Christ. Pray for the Beldar people to have easy access to Christian materials in the Hindi language. Pray for spiritual discernment and hunger among the Beldar people in Bangladesh.


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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Beldar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Beldar (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation BEL-dar
Alternate Names Bachgotra; Bailwar; Bentkar; Bhujan; Bhujwa; Bilwar; Bunkar; Cetti; Changar; Chauhan; Chetti; Chunar; Chunara; Chunari; Chuncha; Chundollu; Chungar; Chuniyara; Gavandi; Goundi; Govandi; Kannada Balija Naickar; Kannada Naickar; Kannada Naicker; Kannadiya Naicker; Kannadiyar; Karpoora Chetti; Kattautia; Kerebandiyavaru; Lonari; Londhari; Lonia; Lonkar; Lonmali; Lunia; Matadi; Melusakkare; MelusakkareSagara; Melusakkareyavaru; Memar; Mila; Nunari; Nunia; Nuniya Beldar; Nuri; Odavandlu; Rai; Roy; Sagar; Sagara; Sagaravanshadavara; Sagarollu; Sagarvanshadavaru; Sagra; Sonkari; Sunga; Sunkar; Sunkaravandlu; Tamuli; Toreya; Unar; Upasara; Uplan; Uppaliga; Uppaliga Shetti; Uppaligashetty; Uppara; Uppari; Uppilara Naicker; Uppilia; Uppilia Naicker; Uppiliar; Uppiliga Naicker; Uppiliyan; Vethalaikaran; बेलदर (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 2,268,000
Population all Countries 2,284,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 45
PeopleID3 16375
ROP3 Code 111517
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 25
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Karnataka
659,000
Bihar
377,000
Maharashtra
296,000
Uttar Pradesh
190,000
Tamil Nadu
163,000
Telangana
140,000
Madhya Pradesh
34,000
Andhra Pradesh
13,000
Jharkhand
9,800
Gujarat
9,200
Chhattisgarh
7,700
West Bengal
5,400
Odisha
3,700
Goa
1,600
Rajasthan
1,300
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 25  (only 20 largest shown)
  Karnataka 659,000
  Bihar 377,000
  Maharashtra 296,000
  Uttar Pradesh 190,000
  Tamil Nadu 163,000
  Telangana 140,000
  Madhya Pradesh 34,000
  Andhra Pradesh 13,000
  Jharkhand 9,800
  Gujarat 9,200
  Chhattisgarh 7,700
  West Bengal 5,400
  Odisha 3,700
  Goa 1,600
  Rajasthan 1,300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.05 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.57 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.38 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kannada (593,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 33
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
375,000
Telugu
256,000
Marathi
237,000
Bhojpuri
130,000
Magahi
94,000
Tamil
94,000
Maithili
38,000
Konkani
21,000
Marwari (India)
15,000
Gujarati
9,000
Bengali
8,700
Tulu
6,900
Chhattisgarhi
5,900
Ahirani
5,400
Konkani, Goan
3,800
Primary Language Kannada (593,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 33
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 375,000
  Telugu 256,000
  Marathi 237,000
  Bhojpuri 130,000
  Magahi 94,000
  Tamil 94,000
  Maithili 38,000
  Konkani 21,000
  Marwari (India) 15,000
  Gujarati 9,000
  Bengali 8,700
  Tulu 6,900
  Chhattisgarhi 5,900
  Ahirani 5,400
  Konkani, Goan 3,800
People Groups Speaking Kannada

Primary Language:  Kannada

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1988)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1827-2023)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2024)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
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Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Kannada Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Kannada Bible (ಕನ್ನಡ ಬೈಬಲ್) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Kannada Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Kannada Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
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Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Kannada Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
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 Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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