Lunia (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 name Lunia comes from Lun or Nun meaning "moist," and is the name for sea salt. Hindu society classes Lunia people as the lowest of the four caste blocks.


Where Are they Located?

They live in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and a small number are in West Bengal where they are classed as a low caste community. A smaller number live either in Bangladesh or Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Lunia people farm, build roads and railways, do various construction work, and dig wells. Many are farmers on small plots of land that they own. A select few work in government as political leaders, and in private occupations.

Lunias marry only among their sub-caste or subgroup. They accept both adult and child marriages. The bridegroom goes to the home of his bride, marries her, and they live in the home of his parents. Usually marriages are arranged by negotiation. They permit divorce and re-marriage.

When the father dies, the oldest son becomes leader of the family. Sons and daughters inherit and equal amount of the property of their parents. The widowed mother receives some income if she does not marry again.

Men make the final decisions, though they consider the opinions of women. Lunia women do housework, collect firewood, and participate in rituals, social and religious matters.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Lunia people are Hindus, worshiping many gods and goddesses. They also worship their ancestors and celebrate Hindu festivals. Brahmin priests perform their birth, marriage and death rituals.


What Are Their Needs?

Written, audio, and visual Scripture resources exist in their main languages. Lunia people need primarily audio and visual resources since their literacy level is below national average.

They need to understand that the gods they worship cannot give them eternal life, nor can they correct their sin problems.


Prayer Points

Pray that doors will open wide to the use of the JESUS Film and that much fruit will abound including house churches.
Pray for a major mobilization of prayer worldwide for the Lunia people.
Pray for entire clans and extended Lunia families to embrace the Savior and begin house churches.
Pray for the Lunia people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.


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


References

www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/lunia/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Lunia (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Lunia (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation loo-nee-AH
Alternate Names Agri; Behari; Bihari; Chauhan; Chunari; Hindustani; Jhumaria Parmer; Kharwat; Lonari; Londhari; Lunia; Luniya; Luniyar; Mungar; Murha; Nonia; Noniar; Noongar; Nungar; Nunia; Nuniya; Paschinafati; Sambhri; Sambhri Chauhan; Tel Julaha; Teli Julaha; Uppar; लूनिया (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 80,000
Population all Countries 3,748,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 17391
ROP3 Code 112789
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 11
Largest States
Narayani
35,000
Janakpur
33,000
Kosi
9,700
Mechi
1,400
Sagarmatha
600
Bagmati
400
Gandaki
200
Seti
200
Lumbini
200
Bheri
100
Rapti
50
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 11
  Narayani 35,000
  Janakpur 33,000
  Kosi 9,700
  Mechi 1,400
  Sagarmatha 600
  Bagmati 400
  Gandaki 200
  Seti 200
  Lumbini 200
  Bheri 100
  Rapti 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.06 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.03 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.87 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.04 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (48,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
20,000
Nepali
500
Angika
500
Hindi
200
Awadhi
200
Magahi
80
Dotyali
60
Primary Language Maithili (48,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 20,000
  Nepali 500
  Angika 500
  Hindi 200
  Awadhi 200
  Magahi 80
  Dotyali 60
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 Veeru143mahi - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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