Bangali (Hindu traditions) in Nepal


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 Bangali are a semi-nomadic tribal people who live in north India and Nepal. They are distinct from the large Bengali people who live in northeast India and Bangladesh.

The Bangali make their living by charming snakes, working as landless farm workers, in animal husbandry and by gathering forest products like roots. The Nepali government has made an effort to stop their wandering ways and make them live in fixed villages. Most Bangali cannot read or write. They are among the poorest peoples of Nepal.

The main language of the Bangali is Maithili Smaller groups speak Bengali and Nepali.


Where Are they Located?

Most Bangali live in north India and the Nepali states of Kosi, Mechi, Bagmati and Lumbini.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bangali live a subsistence existence in Nepali. They travel from place to place raising their animals and trying to find day labor jobs so they can feed their families.

They sell their animals to buy food and other necessary items. They live in portable huts made of reeds and mud.

The Bangali marry within their group. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit what little property the father possesses. Since their traditional occupation of snake charming is disappearing more and more Bangali are working as day agricultural laborers. If these jobs are few, the Bangali face the prospect of starvation.

The Nepali government disapproves of their hunting animals and gathering products from the forest so that source of food is almost gone.

Caste councils settle legal disputes and promote their interests with outsiders.

The Bangali are not vegetarians but will not eat beef. Meat is normally reserved for holidays. The main foods of the Bangali are rice, wheat, lentils and vegetables.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Nepali Bangali practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of the Indian subcontinent. They mix their Hindu faith with folk religion. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Each clan may have their patron deities. 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 Bangali visit Hindu temples and shrines 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 Bangali people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bangali have tremendous spiritual and physical needs. They need help in establishing permanent villages. They need help in learning new job skills and in educating their children. They would benefit by having access to clean water, electricity and modern medical care. Most of all the Bangali need to hear about Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Bangali caste councils and leaders come to Jesus Christ and lead their families to Christ.
Pray that God will give them a distain for their Hindu gods and a strong desire to know the Triune God of the Bible.
Pray that God will send them believers who can help them escape their spiritual and physical poverty.


Scripture Prayers for the Bangali (Hindu traditions) in Nepal.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangali_(caste)
joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16487/IN


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Bangali (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Bangali (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Bangale; Joginath; Joginath. Singhiwala; Singhiwala; बंगाली (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 30,000
Population all Countries 113,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16487
ROP3 Code 111656
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Mechi Zone, Jhapa District; Koshi Zone, Morang and Sunsari districts; Sagarmatha Zone, Saptari District.   Source:  www.ethnologue.com
Total States on file 12
Largest States
Kosi
7,000
Mechi
4,700
Bagmati
4,100
Lumbini
4,000
Narayani
3,200
Sagarmatha
2,000
Bheri
1,700
Janakpur
1,300
Seti
1,000
Gandaki
500
Mahakali
200
Rapti
30
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Mechi Zone, Jhapa District; Koshi Zone, Morang and Sunsari districts; Sagarmatha Zone, Saptari District..   Source:  www.ethnologue.com
Total States 12
  Kosi 7,000
  Mechi 4,700
  Bagmati 4,100
  Lumbini 4,000
  Narayani 3,200
  Sagarmatha 2,000
  Bheri 1,700
  Janakpur 1,300
  Seti 1,000
  Gandaki 500
  Mahakali 200
  Rapti 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.54 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.42 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.04 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (14,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Bengali
7,800
Nepali
3,700
Angika
200
Dotyali
70
Rangpuri
30
Assamese
30
Primary Language Maithili (14,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Bengali 7,800
  Nepali 3,700
  Angika 200
  Dotyali 70
  Rangpuri 30
  Assamese 30
People Groups Speaking Maithili

Primary Language:  Maithili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010)
Bible-Complete No
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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maithili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maithili Bible General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Maithili 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 Maithili Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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