Ravidas Chamar (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 Ravidas are part of a subgroup of Chamar who live in India. The Chamars represent the largest population of the low caste groups in the country. The Ravidas are a portion of the Chamars that revere the 15th century guru Ravidas. Their traditional occupation is that of leather worker, a profession, which is scorned by devout Hindus. The Ravidas make shoes, belts and other goods from dead cattle. They do no kill the animals, which would be against their Hindu beliefs. Some Ravidas have left their former occupation to weave bamboo into baskets and other useful items. Still others work as landless laborers on tea plantations and farms. Unfortunately, illiteracy is an issue for the Ravidas. Without a proper education, they have little opportunity to escape their lives of poverty and exclusion.


The Ravidas Chamar are designated a Scheduled caste by the Indian government. They are eligible for special preference for public jobs and in university admission.


The primary language of the Ravidas is Hindi. They also speak other regional Indian languages like Kangri and Gujarati.


Where Are they Located?

Most of the Ravidas Chamar lives in the north Indian state of Jharkand. The rest live across many areas of India like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lives of the Ravidas Chamar, like the lives of all who are from a low caste, are challenging. They are excluded from many aspects of Indian life by their low class classification. The Indian Constitution outlaws the caste system, but it still ingrained in the hearts of the Hindus. Most Ravidas live in rural villages without the modern blessings of clean water, electricity and indoor plumbing.


The Ravidas marry within their caste. Their own priests lead important life ceremonies since Brahmins will not work with them. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit property with the home going to the eldest son. The newly married Ravidas couple lives with or near the groom's parents.


The main foods of the Ravidas Chamar are rice, sorghum and seasonable vegetables and fruit. The Ravidas are not vegetarians but as Hindus will not eat beef.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Ravidas Chamar practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Their main gods are Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva, the destroyer. 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 Ravidas offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods at their village shrines because people from low caste groups are often not allowed to enter standard Hindu temples.


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


What Are Their Needs?

The Ravidas Chamar have pressing needs. They need help in getting an education for their children. They need help in bringing clean water, electricity and indoor plumbing to their villages. Most of all, they need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand.


Prayer Points

Pray that God sends Christian workers to share the gospel with and help with the physical needs of the Ravidas.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Ravidas people a love for God's Word and a desire to spread its influence.
Pray that the tiny number of Ravidas Christians would be trained and that their numbers would increase as they share God's Word with their brothers and sisters.


Scripture Prayers for the Ravidas Chamar (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16561/IN


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Ravidas Chamar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Ravidas Chamar (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names रविदास चामर
Population this Country 1,583,000
Population all Countries 1,583,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 32
PeopleID3 20918
ROP3 Code 117679
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 16
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
452,000
Bihar
250,000
Jharkhand
197,000
Chhattisgarh
132,000
Madhya Pradesh
129,000
Rajasthan
103,000
Gujarat
96,000
Haryana
77,000
Delhi
48,000
Himachal Pradesh
27,000
Uttarakhand
26,000
West Bengal
25,000
Punjab
16,000
Odisha
2,200
Chandigarh
1,300
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 16
  Uttar Pradesh 452,000
  Bihar 250,000
  Jharkhand 197,000
  Chhattisgarh 132,000
  Madhya Pradesh 129,000
  Rajasthan 103,000
  Gujarat 96,000
  Haryana 77,000
  Delhi 48,000
  Himachal Pradesh 27,000
  Uttarakhand 26,000
  West Bengal 25,000
  Punjab 16,000
  Odisha 2,200
  Chandigarh 1,300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.37 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.85 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.78 %
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 Hindi (958,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 37
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhojpuri
128,000
Gujarati
76,000
Chhattisgarhi
74,000
Bengali
22,000
Punjabi, Eastern
20,000
Maithili
18,000
Magahi
12,000
Kanauji
11,000
Wagdi
10,000
Haryanvi
8,800
Bundeli
7,200
Garhwali
7,100
Dhundari
6,800
Kangri
6,000
Awadhi
4,600
Primary Language Hindi (958,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 37
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhojpuri 128,000
  Gujarati 76,000
  Chhattisgarhi 74,000
  Bengali 22,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 20,000
  Maithili 18,000
  Magahi 12,000
  Kanauji 11,000
  Wagdi 10,000
  Haryanvi 8,800
  Bundeli 7,200
  Garhwali 7,100
  Dhundari 6,800
  Kangri 6,000
  Awadhi 4,600
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Hindi) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Word General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sab Ki Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: पवित्र बाइबिल Hindi Bible Biblica
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Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
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 David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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