Charan (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 Charans are a caste of people living in the Rajasthan and Gujarat states of India, and a smaller number live in the Sindh and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan.
The Charans are well known for their contribution to the literature of Rajasthan, Sindh, and Gujarat as well as the earliest literature of Hindi. As Akbar's historian Abul Fazl pointed out Charans are good poets and better soldiers. They were a part of the landed aristocracy in Rajasthan and Gujarat, receiving land and privileges for their literary and military services. They part of the feudal system in Rajasthan and Gujarat as landowners and tax collectors. Charans were poets, soldiers, merchants, horse traders, caravan protectors, and cattle breeders. During the Partition of India in 1947 many Hindus left Pakistan and moved to India. Many Muslims in India relocated to Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

At present, many Charans are engaged in government services at administrative positions. Others are employed by the military. Many Charans own land and have lower castes work the land for them.
Hindu Charans practice monogamy, marriage to one's spouse. Families and young people choose marriage partners. Charans like to marry within their group. Sons inherit property and take care of elderly parent and grandparents. Charan parents encourage their children to attend and graduate from universities.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all Charans people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.
Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.
Charans pay special devotion to the goddess Hinglaj, the first avatar of Shakti, the goddess of feminine power.


What Are Their Needs?

The Charans must understand that their wealth and status will not gain the approval of the true God. Like people everywhere, the Charan people need to allow the loving Savior to direct their lives. They need his forgiveness for their sins and the gift of eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray the Charan people in India and Pakistan would put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.
Pray for loving workers to go to the Charans of Pakistan.
Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in the communities of the Charans in India and Pakistan.


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


References

Kamphorst, Janet (2008). In Praise of Death: History and Poetry in Medieval Marwar. Leiden University Press. ISBN 978-90-8728-044-4.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Charan (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Charan (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Bahror; Banna; Barath; Barhat; Barhath; Barhatt; Barhatta; Charan; Gadhavi; Gadhpati; Gadhvi; Gadvi; Gadwa; Gadwi; Hukum; Kaviraj; Maldhari; चारण (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 356,000
Population all Countries 399,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
PeopleID3 16571
ROP3 Code 111764
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 14
Largest States
Rajasthan
171,000
Gujarat
133,000
Maharashtra
39,000
Madhya Pradesh
12,000
Daman and Diu
400
Tamil Nadu
300
Dadra and Nagar Have
200
Delhi
200
Telangana
100
Bihar
80
West Bengal
80
Chhattisgarh
70
Karnataka
60
Jharkhand
20
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 14
  Rajasthan 171,000
  Gujarat 133,000
  Maharashtra 39,000
  Madhya Pradesh 12,000
  Daman and Diu 400
  Tamil Nadu 300
  Dadra and Nagar Have 200
  Delhi 200
  Telangana 100
  Bihar 80
  West Bengal 80
  Chhattisgarh 70
  Karnataka 60
  Jharkhand 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.95 %
Islam
0.05 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (114,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
Hindi
71,000
Marwari (India)
50,000
Wagdi
17,000
Kacchi
16,000
Marathi
9,600
Mewari
9,500
Dhundari
7,400
Haroti: Harauti
6,900
Konkani
6,300
Shekhawati
5,000
Nimadi
1,200
Malvi
1,100
Primary Language Gujarati (114,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 71,000
  Marwari (India) 50,000
  Wagdi 17,000
  Kacchi 16,000
  Marathi 9,600
  Mewari 9,500
  Dhundari 7,400
  Haroti: Harauti 6,900
  Konkani 6,300
  Shekhawati 5,000
  Nimadi 1,200
  Malvi 1,100
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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 Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
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 Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
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 direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Gujarati Bible (ગુજરાતી બાઇબલ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Gujarati Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Gujarati Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Gujarati Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024