Tirgar (Hindu 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.

Introduction / History

The Tirgar are a relatively small group of people who live in western India. Their name comes from words "arrow maker." The traditional occupation of the Tirgar was making bows and arrows for the armies of west and north India. Most Tirgar today work as agricultural laborers, often on land owned by higher castes. The Tirgar claim to be descendants of Rajputs or rulers but are seen by others as the lowest of the four castes in the Hindu system.

The main languages of the Tirgar are Gujarati and Hindi. Many Christian resources are available in both of these major languages.


Where Are they Located?

The Hindu Tirgar people are scattered throughout western India, especially in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Tirgar's ancient profession of making bows and arrows has disappeared in the modern age. Most have taken to agriculture. Some Tirgar own the land they work on but most live as landless farm laborers. Illiteracy is a major issue for the Tirgar. Their children, especially the girls, quit school after a few years to help their parents make a living.

The Tirgar marry within their group but outside of their clan or gotra. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. Sons inherit their father's property. A cast council settles legal issues and promotes the Tirgar's interests.

The main foods of the Tirgar are rice, wheat, lentils, vegetables, and dairy products. As Hindus they will not eat beef.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Tirgar people practice Hinduism mixed with animism. They pay special devotion to the gods Thakurji, Shundamata, Krishna, and Rama. The Tirgar visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Tirgar people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tirgar need to see believers in Christ demonstrating the victorious life in practical ways. They need schools where they children can learn to read and write. Many Tirgar lack access to modern medicine. The Tirgar would benefit by learning new job skills as farm laborers often make only a subsistent wage. Most of all, the Tirgar need to hear and respond to the message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and bring them hope of a better life.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Tirgar people teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Tirgar families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for Tirgar families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.
Pray for teams of believers to do sustained, focused prayer for the Lord to open the hearts of Tirgar family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.


Scripture Prayers for the Tirgar (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirgar


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Tirgar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Tirgar (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Agni Vanni; Kamangar; Tirbanda; Tirbonda; Tirgala; तिरगार (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 17,000
Population all Countries 17,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18256
ROP3 Code 113790
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 6
Largest States
Gujarat
9,700
Rajasthan
5,800
Madhya Pradesh
900
Tamil Nadu
200
Karnataka
100
Maharashtra
80
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 6
  Gujarat 9,700
  Rajasthan 5,800
  Madhya Pradesh 900
  Tamil Nadu 200
  Karnataka 100
  Maharashtra 80
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.03 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.95 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (8,400 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
Hindi
3,100
Marwari (India)
1,700
Mewari
700
Wagdi
600
Kannada
200
Marathi
80
Tamil
40
Haroti: Harauti
30
Kacchi
Primary Language Gujarati (8,400 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 3,100
  Marwari (India) 1,700
  Mewari 700
  Wagdi 600
  Kannada 200
  Marathi 80
  Tamil 40
  Haroti: Harauti 30
  Kacchi 10
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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 Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 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 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 Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
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: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Gujarati Bible (ગુજરાતી બાઇબલ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Gujarati Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Gujarati Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Gujarati Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
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 Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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