Raigar 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.

Introduction / History

The Raigar or Regar are a caste who live in Rajastan, west India. "Raigar" comes from their work meaning dyeing or tanning of leather. Most Raigar are landless workers in the fields. Some have left their traditional occupation leatherworking and farming and become weavers of rugs, polishers of gems and makers of ornaments for trade. Unfortunately, many Raigar are illiterate.

A few Raigar have become educated and gone to cities to become professionals and successful businesspersons.

The primary language of the Raigar is Hindi. They also speak Marwari and other regional languages.


Where Are they Located?

The vast majority of the Raigar live in the Indian state of Rajastan. A few also live in Punjab and Karnataka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lives of the Raigar is difficult. It is a struggle to put enough food on the table for their families. They are shunned by upper caste Hindus and must live in rural villages in their own sections. Many of these villages lack access to clean water, indoors plumbing and electricity, things that westerners take for granted.

The Raigar marry within their caste but not within their particular clan. Families arrange marriages. Girls are often married off quite young. Sons inherit what little property a father may possess. The eldest son gets ownership of the family home and responsibility for his family.

The Raigar have their own priests and shrines because Brahmins will not help them. The Raigar are frequently denied entrance to Hindu temples by other Hindus.

Most Raigar are not vegetarians. As Hindus they will not eat beef. Meat is reserved for special occasions. Their main foods are wheat, rice, lentils and vegetables.

The Raigar have caste councils to promote their interests and settle legal disputes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Raigar practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Raigar visit their own village shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. The god Shiva, the destroyer, has a special place in Raigar worship.

The main yearly holidays of the Raigar people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the celebration of autumn.


What Are Their Needs?

The Raigar have many pressing needs. Most of all they need to hear and understand the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Christian workers could help the Raigar learn new job skills, obtain modern medicine and educate their children.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those Christians ministering to the Raigar people.
Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Raigar families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray that many of the Raigar people will come to love God with their whole being and will walk in His ways.


Scripture Prayers for the Raigar in India.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regar
charmakars.org/cprof/regar.htm
infogalactic.com/info/Regar


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Raigar
People Name in Country Raigar
Pronunciation ray-GUHR
Alternate Names Raigani; Rajgar; Regar; रायगर
Population this Country 1,009,000
Population all Countries 1,009,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 20
PeopleID3 17926
ROP3 Code 113410
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 5
Largest States
Rajasthan
1,007,000
Punjab
1,700
Gujarat
400
Karnataka
50
Daman and Diu
10
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 5
  Rajasthan 1,007,000
  Punjab 1,700
  Gujarat 400
  Karnataka 50
  Daman and Diu 10
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Wagdi (269,000 speakers)
Language Code wbr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
Hindi
262,000
Marwari (India)
143,000
Mewari
86,000
Shekhawati
67,000
Dhundari
50,000
Punjabi, Eastern
1,900
Haroti: Harauti
1,500
Gujarati
500
Kannada
40
Primary Language Wagdi (269,000 speakers)
Language Code wbr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 262,000
  Marwari (India) 143,000
  Mewari 86,000
  Shekhawati 67,000
  Dhundari 50,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 1,900
  Haroti: Harauti 1,500
  Gujarati 500
  Kannada 40
People Groups Speaking Wagdi
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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