Hasalaru 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 Hasalaru or Hasala are a tribal people who live in the south Indian state of Karnataka. In the past they were hunters and gatherers of forest products. When tea and coffee plantations developed in southern India, the Hasala moved to work on the plantations. They have a very low literacy rate and are classified as a Scheduled Tribe. They receive special benefits from the government for their low status. The main language of the Hasala is Tulu. Many also speak Kannada. The New Testament is available in Tulu. Many Christian resources are available in Kannada.


Where Are they Located?

This Hindu community lives on plantations and in villages in Karnataka, a state of south India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Hasala are almost exclusively landless agricultural workers. They labor on land that grows coffee, tea, areca and betel nuts, rice and palm products. They are not vegetarian but as Hindus will not eat beef. Their staple food is rice. The Hasala ferment rice, jackfruit and palm sap to make alcoholic drinks. They supplement their diet with wild birds and game. They collect honey and sell it to buy things they cannot make for themselves. Men smoke cigarettes, which they roll themselves. Both men and women chew betel nut.

When a dispute occurs in the Hasala community, village elders decide the case and impose fines on the guilty party. Children frequently do not attend school and work with their parents in the fields.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Hasalaru people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is actually a catch-all phrase for all the indigenous practices of this part of the world. Therefore, there are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods whom they believe will give them favor and protection. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians so. These Hindus believe that in a long run, by performing rituals and good works, they have the chance to attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

Tribal groups like the Hasala also mix animism with their Hinduism. They believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature such as trees, rivers, mountains, and rocks. These spirits must be appeased with prayer, rituals and offerings or they might bring disaster upon the Hasala community.


What Are Their Needs?

As an impoverished tribal people, the Hasala have many needs. Their children need an education to improve their place in Indian society. The Hasala need access to modern medical care. The adults need to be able to read the Bible and other written material. The adults need to learn new job skills. Most of all, the Hasala need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and get them right with the one, true God.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Hasalaru people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive the Savior.
Pray for networks of believing Hasalaru families and fellowships that will throw the doors open for others to follow Jesus.
Pray for the Lord to bless the families among the Hasalaru people with His presence and mercy.
Pray for believers among this people group to disciple others who will disciple still others.
Pray for Bible believing fellowships and churches among the Hasalaru people.


Scripture Prayers for the Hasalaru in India.


References


http://oldrol.lbp.world/UploadArticle/157.pdf


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Hasalaru
People Name in Country Hasalaru
Alternate Names Halasavar; Halsar; Halsavar; Hasalavar; Hasla; Haslaru; Hulasvar; Hulsavar; Hulsawar; Moger; Muger; हसलारू
Population this Country 29,000
Population all Countries 29,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18774
ROP3 Code 112210
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
Karnataka
29,000
Tamil Nadu
90
Maharashtra
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 3
  Karnataka 29,000
  Tamil Nadu 90
  Maharashtra 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.84 %
Islam
0.10 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.02 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tulu (14,000 speakers)
Language Code tcy   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Kannada
11,000
Tamil
100
Telugu
100
Malayalam
50
Marathi
10
Konkani, Goan
Hindi Halbi Gujarati
Bengali
Primary Language Tulu (14,000 speakers)
Language Code tcy   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Kannada 11,000
  Tamil 100
  Telugu 100
  Malayalam 50
  Marathi 10
  Konkani, Goan 10
  Hindi 10
  Halbi 0
  Gujarati 0
  Bengali 0
People Groups Speaking Tulu
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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