Musahar (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 Musahar are considered one of the lowest of the low status groups within India and suffer tremendously from their status in society. Their name is derived from two words meaning "rat catcher" and is likely attributed to them for their tendency to eat rodents in times of dire need. Most are in India, but some live either in Bangladesh or Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They have large families and live with several generations in the same household. A Musahar village is almost always filled with children. Though they will frequently speak Hindi, the local trade language, they will speak Angika or Awadhi at home.
Land ownership is rare, and most will work as agricultural laborers, day laborers or forest and fishing. The women also work in agriculture or other unskilled labor such as stitching leaf-plates.
Education is not valued, and literacy is extremely low with literacy rates running 2-6%. Often, they will drop out at the primary level due to social or economic factors. Modern development programs have had little impact on them as few if any of the sparsely allocated resources designated for them ever reach them in their need. Their wages are often paid in crops, and they trade in the marketplace through barter.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Their background is animistic or popular Hinduism.
The Musahar are very receptive to the gospel and a move of Christ is beginning among them. A significant number of Musahar are following Christ and village house churches are being formed with Musahar leadership. A network of agencies and churches are working among the Musahar. The Musahar are in the process of being reached.
Traditionally they follow their tribal faith and will worship their family deity and the village deity, as well as the gods of the wider Hindu faith.


What Are Their Needs?

Due their extreme poverty they live far from towns and cities which have proper health care. Nor do they have the capacity to travel to avail themselves of these facilities. The result is a desperate health care situation. Child mortality and maternal mortality are high, and the life span is short which is exacerbated by high rates of alcoholism among the male population.
Much of their condition is a result of their low position in the caste hierarchy. They are considered as having low status and treated with disdain by all other sections of society. Any attempts at economic advancement will be taken away from them or destroyed and they have little or no capacity to retain property rights. Their constitutional rights of education and food subsidies are routinely denied through corruption and caste-based policies. They are powerless and voiceless, unable to change their situation alone. Sadly, many Musahar women are kidnapped or sold into prostitution in the major metropolitan cities. Without recourse this becomes their new life, oppressed, abused and forced to suffer in silence.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to be a shield to protect the Musahar people in Nepal.
Ask God to raise up Musahar who are more desirous to know the truth than to stay on the broad road to death.
Ask God to send loving, committed workers to the Musahar soon.
Pray the Musahar would no longer be hidden away from the influence of Christ.


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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Musahar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Musahar (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation MOO-sah-har
Alternate Names Banmanus; Banraja; Bhuiya; Gaur; Gonr; Maha-Dalits; Musahar Bhuiya; Mushar; Mushr; Palamau Bhuiya; मुसहर (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 270,000
Population all Countries 3,818,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
PeopleID3 17711
ROP3 Code 113160
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 12
Largest States
Sagarmatha
95,000
Janakpur
68,000
Kosi
63,000
Narayani
32,000
Lumbini
7,100
Mechi
3,600
Bheri
1,000
Bagmati
400
Seti
300
Gandaki
100
Mahakali
100
Rapti
50
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 12
  Sagarmatha 95,000
  Janakpur 68,000
  Kosi 63,000
  Narayani 32,000
  Lumbini 7,100
  Mechi 3,600
  Bheri 1,000
  Bagmati 400
  Seti 300
  Gandaki 100
  Mahakali 100
  Rapti 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.58 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.50 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.76 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.16 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (200,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
26,000
Nepali
3,400
Angika
2,900
Magahi
1,500
Hindi
700
Awadhi
600
Rangpuri
200
Bengali
100
Kumaoni
60
Primary Language Maithili (200,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 26,000
  Nepali 3,400
  Angika 2,900
  Magahi 1,500
  Hindi 700
  Awadhi 600
  Rangpuri 200
  Bengali 100
  Kumaoni 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 Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  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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