Mallah (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 Mallah of Uttar Pradesh often go by the name of Nishad, which refers to a character from the Hindu myth the Ramayana. Nishad was a boatman in Prayag (Allahabad UP) who ferried Ram, Sita and Laskman across the river. From this tale, the Nishad consider their occupation as boatmen along the holy Ganga river carrying Hindu devotees as a high calling or holy occupation. They take pride in their heritage. Mallah are the traditional fishermen and boatmen of India and neighboring countries.


Where Are they Located?

Most Mallah individuals live in India, but there are also sizable communities in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Mallah people are usually poor and often illiterate. They are involved in boating and some fishing and sometimes in farming. They are strict about marrying within their own caste. The women are not often seen in public, although at times in Hindu pilgrimage areas such as Allahabad or Benares, you will see children and women of this caste selling flowers and incense for river worship purposes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though most Mallah are Hindu, there are many who are Muslim. There is no founder for Hinduism as there is for Buddhism, Islam or Christianity. There is often a thin line between what is Hindu and what is traditional animistic religion. There are millions of deities that Hindus might worship; they tend to focus on those they believe will benefit them the most. For this reason, it is safe to say that Hindu Mallah people worship Hindu gods that they believe will provide safety and prosperity.


What Are Their Needs?

They have lacks in literacy, education, health, family planning, and economic advancement. All Mallah people need the chance to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and to become part of His holy family.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Mallah families and community leaders to seek His face and enjoy His blessings.
Pray for the Lord to raise up workers who will be led to nurture disciple making movement within Mallah communities througout South Asia.
Pray that soon Mallah people will have joy and faith that will be contagious; giving their neighbors a desire to follow Christ.


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


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17432/NP
https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/mallah/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallaah


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mallah (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Mallah (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation mah-LAH
Alternate Names Gonrhi; Machhua; Machua; Mallar; Mandal; Muriari; Muriyari; Sureha; मल्लाह (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 199,000
Population all Countries 3,738,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
PeopleID3 17432
ROP3 Code 112835
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 13
Largest States
Narayani
61,000
Janakpur
45,000
Sagarmatha
34,000
Lumbini
28,000
Kosi
19,000
Bheri
7,000
Mechi
2,300
Bagmati
600
Seti
500
Gandaki
200
Rapti
70
Mahakali
70
Karnali
20
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 13
  Narayani 61,000
  Janakpur 45,000
  Sagarmatha 34,000
  Lumbini 28,000
  Kosi 19,000
  Bheri 7,000
  Mechi 2,300
  Bagmati 600
  Seti 500
  Gandaki 200
  Rapti 70
  Mahakali 70
  Karnali 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.09 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.24 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.64 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.03 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (108,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
51,000
Awadhi
10,000
Angika
2,000
Magahi
1,000
Nepali
500
Hindi
400
Rangpuri
200
Bengali
200
Primary Language Maithili (108,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 51,000
  Awadhi 10,000
  Angika 2,000
  Magahi 1,000
  Nepali 500
  Hindi 400
  Rangpuri 200
  Bengali 200
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 Anonymous 
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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