Kahar (Sikh traditions) in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Other / Small (Sikhism)
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: 11 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Budane 1,600
Turaiya 1,600
Mehra 1,400
Batham 400
Mahar 200
Bhoi Dhimar Unknown
Khawar Unknown
Mallah Unknown
Raikwar Unknown
Rawani Unknown

Introduction / History

What Indian caste is not really a caste at all? They are the Kahari people, who are part of an ancient community in northern India.


Where Are they Located?

Three quarters of the more than 80,000 Kaharis live in Punjab, and their primary language is Eastern Panjabi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The people group was traditionally associated with water. They cultivated farms with a liberal amount of water, dug wells, grew water nuts, captured waterfowls, and were notable boatmen and fisherman.

With the last century's modernization, these water-related roles have dwindled. Their occupations have become more diversified, inspiring 15 sub-castes to break off from them. Considered "backward," they became parcel carriers, house servants, and stone-cutters. In village settings, they are now landless agricultural laborers. In the city where many have emigrated, they are wage laborers.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kaharis are divided into Hindu, Muslim, and Sikhs communities. The Sikhs among them converted from Hinduism long ago. The Kahari Sikhs are considered to be among the least reached people groups; few if any follow Jesus Christ. Biblical resources are available to them though! In 2002, a complete Bible translation was finished in Eastern Panjabi. Christian teaching is available in audio, video, film and printed formats. Now they need to respond to these resources by forming fellowships of Christ followers.


Prayer Points

Pray that one day soon the Kaharis will lead other castes to drink the Living Water.


Scripture Prayers for the Kahar (Sikh traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

People Name General Kahar (Sikh traditions)
People Name in Country Kahar (Sikh traditions)
Pronunciation kah-HAR
Alternate Names Chandrabansi; Dhimar; Guria; Jhimar; Jhinwar; Kamkar; Kir; Kohoro; Mallan; Mehra; Nikhad; Ramani; Rawani; कहर (सिख ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 87,000
Population all Countries 87,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 18123
ROP3 Code 113628
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Sikh - other
People Group Kahar (Sikh traditions)
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 11
  Budane 1,600
  Turaiya 1,600
  Mehra 1,400
  Batham 400
  Mahar 200
  Bhoi Dhimar 0
  Khawar 0
  Mallah 0
  Raikwar 0
  Rawani 0
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 17
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Punjab
65,000
Haryana
14,000
Delhi
1,600
Uttar Pradesh
1,600
Rajasthan
1,500
Uttarakhand
700
Jammu and Kashmir
600
Maharashtra
400
Chandigarh
400
Jharkhand
300
Madhya Pradesh
300
Chhattisgarh
200
Tamil Nadu
200
Himachal Pradesh
200
West Bengal
100
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 17
  Punjab 65,000
  Haryana 14,000
  Delhi 1,600
  Uttar Pradesh 1,600
  Rajasthan 1,500
  Uttarakhand 700
  Jammu and Kashmir 600
  Maharashtra 400
  Chandigarh 400
  Jharkhand 300
  Madhya Pradesh 300
  Chhattisgarh 200
  Tamil Nadu 200
  Himachal Pradesh 200
  West Bengal 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Other / Small (Sikhism)
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
100.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (65,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Hindi
9,500
Haryanvi
1,500
Kashmiri
60
Garhwali
30
Bhojpuri
20
Magahi
20
Wagdi Marathi
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (65,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 9,500
  Haryanvi 1,500
  Kashmiri 60
  Garhwali 30
  Bhojpuri 20
  Magahi 20
  Wagdi 10
  Marathi 10
People Groups Speaking Punjabi, Eastern

Primary Language:  Punjabi, Eastern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1818-1954)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1815-2011)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1959-2021)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Punjabi, Eastern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
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 direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible App: Punjabi Bible (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬਾਈਬਲ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Punjabi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Punjabi) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Punjabi Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Punjabi, Eastern Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Global Prayer Digest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024