Meena in India

The Meena have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 2

Subgroup Name Population
Zamindar 245,000
Chaukidar 233,000

Introduction / History

The Meena tribe is believed to be a mixture of more than one tribe. A fishing community called Meenavar eventually became Meena. The Meena are known by their Meena language. They live in the hills of Rajasthan, a desert state in western India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In summer, water is very scarce. Water is precious in most places and fetching it is hard with their wells. Women walk long distances with pots on their heads; this is a common scene in Rajasthan. They build homes that keep out the scorching heat of the Rajasthani desert. Men make tiles in the heat of the summer when there is no agricultural activity. They bake hand-made clay tiles in fire. Ladies will make brooms and mats from palm branches or distill liquor. Country liquor made from the mova flower is a common and favorite hot drink.

Lack of education, illiteracy and lack of access to proper facilities keep the Meena under the clutches of several sicknesses. Tuberculosis and death during delivery are both common in Meena villages. Though pastures are scanty, several of them are also involved in tending cattle, trying to make a living by the sale of milk products and selling calves.

They do not intermarry with other tribes. The younger brother of a deceased man can marry his widow. A married man has freedom and access on his older brother's wife and wife's younger sister. During weddings and other festivals, there is lots of drumming and dancing. As the drum music tightens, women loosen their dresses in a revealing way.

The dead are cremated. The corpse of men is wrapped in white cloth and the women in colored cloth. Raised platforms of rectangle shapes are raised as tomb at the grave behind the residence.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In the empty slopes of a hill among the cactus are wooden poles with flags. These are places of offerings and chants. Meena in the Udaipur area worship spirits and the chief among them is Magarababji. Meena believe in life after death. Those who do well in this life are supposed to be born as stars in the next birth.


What Are Their Needs?

These people need to put their hope and identity in the King of kings and Lord of lords.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving workers to go to the Meena people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.

Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.

Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that result in thousands of new disciples who share their faith with others.

Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.


Scripture Prayers for the Meena in India.


References

Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Meena
People Name in Country Meena
Alternate Names Ge; Guin; Maina; Mena; Popo; मीना
Population this Country 5,505,000
Population all Countries 5,505,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 110
People ID 13723
ROP3 Code 106638
ROP25 Code 305465
ROP25 Name Mina
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 10
Largest States
Rajasthan
4,949,000
Madhya Pradesh
449,000
Haryana
56,000
Uttar Pradesh
44,000
Delhi
4,800
Uttarakhand
2,200
Gujarat
80
Dadra and Nagar Have
50
Chandigarh
50
Maharashtra
20
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 10
  Rajasthan 4,949,000
  Madhya Pradesh 449,000
  Haryana 56,000
  Uttar Pradesh 44,000
  Delhi 4,800
  Uttarakhand 2,200
  Gujarat 80
  Dadra and Nagar Have 50
  Chandigarh 50
  Maharashtra 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.14 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.70 %
Islam
0.10 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.06 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (1,569,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 41
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Dhundari
1,204,000
Mewari
690,000
Bhili
493,000
Me'en
306,000
Marwari
247,000
Shekhawati
160,000
Haroti
107,000
Punjabi, Eastern
24,000
Malvi
17,000
Bundeli
4,500
Braj Bhasha
4,100
Wagdi
2,700
Bagri
1,700
Garhwali
1,500
Gujarati
1,100
Primary Language Hindi (1,569,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 41
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Dhundari 1,204,000
  Mewari 690,000
  Bhili 493,000
  Me'en 306,000
  Marwari 247,000
  Shekhawati 160,000
  Haroti 107,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 24,000
  Malvi 17,000
  Bundeli 4,500
  Braj Bhasha 4,100
  Wagdi 2,700
  Bagri 1,700
  Garhwali 1,500
  Gujarati 1,100
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)
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
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source गंगा सहाय मीणा - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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