Lohar (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 Lohar are a people whose traditional occupation was forging and making iron tools. There are Hindu, Muslim and Sikh Lohar who live in India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. In former times, the Lohar would travel from village to village selling and repairing iron tools. With the coming of modern factories that make steel implements, the Lohar's economic level has declined. They have had to seek other kinds of employment. The Lohar speak the language of where they live. The primary language of the Lohar in Nepal is Maithlili. Many Lohar men also speak Hindi which allows them to communicate with most peoples in north India and Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Nepal is a small landlocked country of the Himalayas, the highest mountain chain in the world. A series of recent earthquakes have hurt the already precarious Nepalese economy. Tourism and agriculture are Nepal's two main sources of wealth. Most Lohar live in poverty. Their fortunes have declined as inexpensive steel manufactured tools became available. They have gone into other jobs such as agriculture, construction and factory work. The Lohar area primarily oral culture. More men are able to read and write than women. Children often quit school early to help their parents earn a living. The nomadic lifestyle also makes education difficult for Lohar children to attend school. Other people sometimes see the Lohar as thieves due to their traveling from place to place. The Lohar are frequently seen as outside the Hindu caste system. As a result the Lohar face discrimination. Families arrange marriages. Lohar marry within their group and religion but not from their own clan. Sons inherit the property of their fathers. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. The Lohar eat meat except for beef. Most of their diet consists of vegetables and rice due to their impoverished economic level.


Although they work hard, they live in extreme poverty.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Lohar are Hindus although some are Muslims and Sikhs. Hindu Lohar pay special reverence to Rama, the god of moral virtue and Kali, the goddess of death and time. 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 Lohar visit Hindu shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hope of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do with their heavenly Father. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Lohar people are 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.


What Are Their Needs?

The Lohar need help in educating their children. Rural Lohar need access to modern medicine and clean water. The Lohar would benefit from learning new job skills. Most of all, the Lohar must hear the lifechanging message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to the Nepalese Lohar to tell them about Jesus. Pray that Lohar parents are able to provide adequately for their children and send them to school. Pray that visual and oral Christian resources would become available and are able to reach the Nepalese Lohar. Ask the Lord to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among the Lohar of Nepal in this decade.


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


References

https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/lohar/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Lohar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Lohar (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation LOW-har
Alternate Names Ahangar; Barhi; Battarha; Dodai; Dodo; Kamar; Kammara; Khar; Lohandia; Lohar; Loharia; Lohura; Lonar; Luhar; Luhara; Luharani; Mistri; Mistry; Nar; Ojali; Ojula; Ozulu; Panchal; Raj; Raj Mistri; Ramgarhia; Sandhan; Sejwani; Shilpakar; Shilpkar; Silpkar; Sree Panchal; Sri Panchal; Thawai; Vishwakama; Vishwakarma; Viswabrahma; Viswakarma; Vojali; लोहार (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 119,000
Population all Countries 11,195,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 17379
ROP3 Code 112774
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Narayani
33,000
Janakpur
27,000
Mahakali
20,000
Seti
14,000
Lumbini
12,000
Sagarmatha
3,600
Bheri
2,400
Karnali
2,100
Bagmati
1,500
Kosi
1,400
Mechi
500
Gandaki
100
Rapti
80
Dhaulagiri
20
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 14
  Narayani 33,000
  Janakpur 27,000
  Mahakali 20,000
  Seti 14,000
  Lumbini 12,000
  Sagarmatha 3,600
  Bheri 2,400
  Karnali 2,100
  Bagmati 1,500
  Kosi 1,400
  Mechi 500
  Gandaki 100
  Rapti 80
  Dhaulagiri 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.06 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.89 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (44,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Nepali
22,000
Bhojpuri
20,000
Dotyali
7,200
Awadhi
5,400
Hindi
3,100
Kumaoni
1,100
Magahi
300
Marwari (India)
60
Angika
40
Bantawa
20
Primary Language Maithili (44,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Nepali 22,000
  Bhojpuri 20,000
  Dotyali 7,200
  Awadhi 5,400
  Hindi 3,100
  Kumaoni 1,100
  Magahi 300
  Marwari (India) 60
  Angika 40
  Bantawa 20
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  Anonymous  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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