Mal (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

No longer will your name be Jacob, the man told him, but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed. Gen. 32:28, NET. The book of Genesis tells us that Jacob become Israel, the father of God's people, in this way. He struggled with God himself and was tested, but he left the conflict strengthened and ready to fulfill his destiny. Israel, therefore, means "he who strives with God." Thousands of years later, another people would be known as wrestlers – Mal people in Nepal. Mal is a shortened form of a Sanskrit phrase that can mean wrestler or soldier.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Maithili is the primary language of Mal people in Nepal. Most are agricultural laborers with no land of their own, although they are also known for being watchmen or gatekeepers.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Every Mal is a Hindu and this people group celebrates its own festivals. Their form of Hinduism has become tied to the Mal identity. Hinduism is the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of India and Nepal, 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 like Christians or Jews.


What Are Their Needs?

An ample supply of Christian resources has been available to them, but the Mal have a low literacy level, so the gospel must be presented orally. Audio and film presentations are available. Piercing intercessory prayer is needed to break through the spiritual barriers that keep the Mal people from the blessings of Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

There are no known believers among the Mal people in Nepal. Pray for growth in both numbers and spiritual maturity. Pray that the Mal, the "wrestlers," will soon have an opportunity to be confronted by the true and living God. Pray that they, like Jacob, will persevere in faith and find their true purpose as children of God. Pray that God will give the Mal dreams and visions leading them to Jesus Christ. Pray that the community leaders among them will come to Jesus Christ and lead the others to salvation. Pray for Mal believers to disciple others who will in turn disciple others.


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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mal (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Mal (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation mahl
Alternate Names Malia; Malla; माल (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 1,400
Population all Countries 2,005,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17424
ROP3 Code 112825
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 5
Largest States
Sagarmatha
600
Janakpur
500
Narayani
200
Lumbini
70
Kosi
70
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 5
  Sagarmatha 600
  Janakpur 500
  Narayani 200
  Lumbini 70
  Kosi 70
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 Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (1,100 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
100
Primary Language Maithili (1,100 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 100
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 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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