October 2002

UNREACHED MEGA PEOPLE GROUP — KAHAR: Their population is approximately 7,400,000. The Kahars are a large agricultural caste of North India. Traditionally, they were palanquin bearers and have historically been employed as house servants by the colonial Europeans. The Kahar have 15 important sub-castes based on occupation. They are found mainly in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Vermilion on the parting of the hair and shell bangles are symbols of marriage for women. There are two special purification ceremonies: one, if a person has killed a cow, donkey or cat and second, if a person causes another to commit suicide. Animal sacrifices are made. The Kahar fear ghosts and revere dead spirits; they give offerings to them to ensure good crops. Pray that community development workers might help them in setting up income generating projects and for the complete Bible translations in the Bhojpuri and Magahi languages. (Unreached Mega Peoples of India, pp. 100, 101)