Day 21 - The Maithili Nationality
Primarily located in Northeast India (state of Bihar) and the eastern "terai" of Nepal
| Population: |
Language: |
Religion: |
| 20 million in India, 2 million in Nepal |
Maithili, Hindi, and Nepali |
Hinduism |
It is uncertain how many Maithilis there are, but it is estimated that there are around 20 million living in India and 2 million in Nepal. Their physical characteristics are similar to many other Indian groups, with dark skin, straight black hair, and dark brown eyes. Maithili is their first language, but many can speak Hindi or Nepali as well. Almost all Maithilis are Hindu, worshipping many different gods and following the traditions and religious ceremonies that have been passed down to them for many generations. There is a very small percentage of Muslims scattered throughout the Maithili villages as well.
There are many different castes within the Maithili nationality, from the Brahmin, or priestly caste, to the untouchables. Most of the higher caste children go to school and the literacy rate is around 30% for the whole group. Their staple foods consist of rice, dhal and vegetables, which is sometimes eaten with fish or goat meat.
Although many Maithilis may have heard of Jesus, very few have heard the salvation message or have any idea what Christianity really is. The Maithilis have not shown much interest in Christianity and there are very few Christians within this group of over 20 million people. They say that converting to another religion is like betraying your own people.
Key Prayer Points:
- Pray against the spirit of pride - Many Maitlilis have a fear of losing their respect if they become Chistians. This fear is especially strong among the higher caste Hindus. Pray that God would help them to overcome their fears.
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- Many Maithilis are bound by superstitions, rituals and family traditions. Pray for breakthroughs in this area.
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- They are very afraid of what would happen to them if they didn't serve the Hindu gods. Pray for a revelation of God's power to these people.
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- Their belief in reincarnation causes them to have no sense of urgency. They believe that they pass from one life to the next and time will just keep going on and on. Pray for a sense of urgency to come to these people.
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