Halwai (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

Halwai people of India are a caste of sweet makers and confectioners. The name Halwai comes from the Hindi word "Halwa" which is a sweet.


Where Are they Located?

Many Halwai people live in Uttar Pradesh, Madya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are viewed with respect. Because of the importance sweets have in religion and socially, they have a special position in festivals, childbirths and marriages.

Sweet shops of Halwai grace towns and bazaars in north India. Some Halwai people are involved government, private work, engineering, medical, and agriculture. Their common language is Hindi.

They are mainly vegetarians, eating wheat, rice, fruit and vegetables. In Bihar, Halwai people eat chicken and mutton, but not beef. They enjoy milk and dairy produce, but not alcohol.

Halwai do not marry outside of their respective groups. They have one spouse. Divorce is permitted, and divorcees, and bereaved are permitted to remarry, and they practivce the tradition of dowry. They practice family planning and modern medicine.

They educate both boys and girls, which is unusual in India. Property is equally given to the sons. The oldest son becomes the leader in the home. Younger men often move away to begin businesses.

Most Halwai people are comfortable financially, and some are wealthy particularly in the cities and towns.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Halwai people are mostly Hindu. A Brahmin priest conducts birth, marriage and death ceremonies. The dead are cremated and the ashes immersed in a river, usually the Ganges. Post delivery child birth pollution and death pollution are observed for a given period of time They observe many pilgrimages and festivals.


What Are Their Needs?

They need to realize that Halwai wealth is temporary but Salvation through Jesus Christ is permanent.

Modernization is breaking down family units which have been the glue to society for many generations, and loneliness is increasingly a problem. They are expected to "achieve it all," but ironically, achieving it all can be empty.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christ to reveal Himself to Halwai leaders.
Pray for the eyes of hearts to be open to Jesus Christ as Lord and King.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Halwi community.
Pray for many to be prompted to faithfully pray for Halwai.


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


References

www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/halwai/


Profile Source:   Karen Hightower  

People Name General Halwai (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Halwai (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation hahl-WYE
Alternate Names Bhanti; Haluwai; Halwai; Madak; Maira; Mayara; Mehtar; Methaiwale; Modak; Modhunapit; हलवाई (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 1,632,000
Population all Countries 1,795,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 33
PeopleID3 16905
ROP3 Code 112199
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 23
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Bihar
602,000
West Bengal
513,000
Uttar Pradesh
358,000
Jharkhand
127,000
Madhya Pradesh
6,700
Odisha
6,200
Chhattisgarh
5,500
Maharashtra
3,900
Uttarakhand
2,000
Andaman and Nicobar
1,600
Delhi
1,500
Rajasthan
1,100
Meghalaya
1,000
Tripura
800
Nagaland
500
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 23  (only 20 largest shown)
  Bihar 602,000
  West Bengal 513,000
  Uttar Pradesh 358,000
  Jharkhand 127,000
  Madhya Pradesh 6,700
  Odisha 6,200
  Chhattisgarh 5,500
  Maharashtra 3,900
  Uttarakhand 2,000
  Andaman and Nicobar 1,600
  Delhi 1,500
  Rajasthan 1,100
  Meghalaya 1,000
  Tripura 800
  Nagaland 500
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (755,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 18
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bengali
432,000
Maithili
110,000
Bhojpuri
87,000
Magahi
25,000
Awadhi
9,600
Angika
7,000
Kanauji
6,900
Odia
3,900
Chhattisgarhi
3,000
Bundeli
500
Marathi
400
Garhwali
200
Andaman Hindi Creole
200
Nimadi
100
Telugu
90
Primary Language Hindi (755,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 18
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bengali 432,000
  Maithili 110,000
  Bhojpuri 87,000
  Magahi 25,000
  Awadhi 9,600
  Angika 7,000
  Kanauji 6,900
  Odia 3,900
  Chhattisgarhi 3,000
  Bundeli 500
  Marathi 400
  Garhwali 200
  Andaman Hindi Creole 200
  Nimadi 100
  Telugu 90
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Hindi) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Word General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sab Ki Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: पवित्र बाइबिल Hindi Bible Biblica
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Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi 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 (Representative photo)
Rajesh Dangi - Wikipedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Karen Hightower 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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