Kalwar (Muslim 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.

Subgroups: 2

Subgroup Name Population
Sunri 700
Batham 200

Introduction / History

The Kalwar or Kalal (in India) are said to derive their name from the Sanskrit word for 'distiller of alcohol' or kalyapala. This community is known as the Muslim distillers and sellers of liquor. Based on this tradition the Kalwar have a relatively low social status. Several million Kalwar are Hindus in India but only a small portion are Muslims. In Nepal there is also a small community of Muslims.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Though traditionally distillers and liquor sellers, the Kalwar are involved today in a variety of trading and selling as well as in labor and some in agriculture. Their position in society in India is one of a more depressed or unclean caste but they are 'touchable '. They speak Nepali, Bhojpuri and Urdu and tend to be favorable to formal education.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Sunni Muslim and follow traditional rites of birth, marriage and death. Married women wear the nose-stud (nakchhabi). They have traditional shared food with other Muslims but not with Hindu groups.
In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

Some success in sharing Christ has borne fruit among the Hindu Kalwar but no known work has even begun among the Muslim community. Pray that workers might be found and that other believing Kalwar could bridge the gap into the Muslim community.


Prayer Points

Pray that some from the Kahar would hear and come to embrace the name of Jesus.
Pray for dedicated and loving workers.
Pray for them to fully understand and cherish their faith and share it with others.


Scripture Prayers for the Kalwar (Muslim traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kalwar (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Kalwar (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation KAHL-wahr
Alternate Names Kalar; Kalari; Kaleri; Konwar; Sehare; कलवार (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 9,900
Population all Countries 13,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17580
ROP3 Code 113007
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 3
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
47,000
West Bengal
3,500
Uttarakhand
400
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 3
  Uttar Pradesh 47,000
  West Bengal 3,500
  Uttarakhand 400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bhojpuri (18,000 speakers)
Language Code bho   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Hindi
16,000
Urdu
13,000
Bengali
3,000
Awadhi
400
Garhwali
70
Primary Language Bhojpuri (18,000 speakers)
Language Code bho   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 16,000
  Urdu 13,000
  Bengali 3,000
  Awadhi 400
  Garhwali 70
People Groups Speaking Bhojpuri

Primary Language:  Bhojpuri

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1911-1982)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1998-2007)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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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 Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bhojpuri Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
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 Internet Publishing Sevice
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
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Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Bhojpuri YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Bhojpuri 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 Bhojpuri Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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