Maira Halwai in Nepal


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 name Halwai comes from the Hindi word "Halwa" which refers to sweets. The Halwai are a caste of sweet makers and confectioners. The Mairas are a subgroup of the Hawais.


Where Are they Located?

The Halwai live mainly in India's northern states, but they also live in Bangladesh and Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Hindus in India and Nepal respect the Maira Halwais. Because of the importance sweets have in the Hindu religion, they have a special position in festivals, childbirths and marriages.

Halwai owned sweet shops grace towns and bazaars throughout north India and Nepal. Some Halwai people are involved government, private work, engineering, medical, and agriculture. Most Maira Halwai people are comfortable financially, and some are wealthy, particularly in the cities and towns.

The Maira Halwai do not marry outside of their respective groups. They have one spouse. They educate both boys and girls, which is unusual in India and Nepal. After the father dies, the oldest son becomes the family head, and property is evenly divided between the sons. Younger men often move away to begin businesses.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Halwai are mainly Hindu and worship all the main Hindu gods such as Shiva, Rama, Krishna, and Ganesh. A Brahmin priest does birth, marriage, and death ceremonies for them. They go on Hindu pilgrimages. The Halwai celebrate all the main Hindu festivals such as Holi and Diwali, many of which involve giving and eating sweets—which is very good for business!


What Are Their Needs?

It is way too easy for the Maira Halwais to be satisfied with what they have, without finding out that only Jesus offers life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Maira Halwai people teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Maira Halwai families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for Maira Halwai 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 Maira Halwai family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.


Scripture Prayers for the Halwai Maira in Nepal.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/21140/NP
http://archive.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/mar/24/tangail-sweet-makers-face-bitter-experience
http://narijibon.blogspot.com/2007/10/porabari-chom-chom-famous-and-legendary.html


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Halwai Maira
People Name in Country Halwai Maira
Natural Name Maira Halwai
Alternate Names Kuri; Madak; Mayara; Modak; Modhunapit; हलवाई मैरा
Population this Country 1,900
Population all Countries 156,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 21140
ROP3 Code 117962
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Janakpur
1,000
Sagarmatha
900
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 2
  Janakpur 1,000
  Sagarmatha 900
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 Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (1,900 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Maithili (1,900 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Maithili

Primary Language:  Maithili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010)
Bible-Complete No
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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maithili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 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: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maithili Bible General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Maithili Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
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 Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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