Bhumij in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Desau 7,100

Introduction / History

The Bhumij are one of nine Munda subgroups in India. Bhumij means "children of the soil." Tribal culture among the Bhumij and the other Munda people groups is quickly changing under the impact of external influences such as industrialization, new communication links, tribal welfare schemes, and community development projects. They reside primarily in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand. Their native language is Bhumij, a dialect of Mundari.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Bhumij depend on farming for survival. Many also engage in fishing and hunting. Rice is their staple food throughout the year. Sex before marriage is not taboo among the Bhumij and they also practice polygamy, the marriage of one many with multiple women.


What Are Their Beliefs?

 The Bhumij follow a mixture of Hinduism and ethnic religious beliefs. Their supreme god is the sun god, but they also worship many of the Hindu deities and tribal gods. They have a firm belief in an almighty creator and also "mother earth."


What Are Their Needs?

 Only a very few Bhumij have accepted Christ. Most have yet to hear and receive the gospel of salvation. Because they are faithful to their family and tribe/village, a church planting movement is very possible if Bhumij elders accept Christ's ambassadors. Once a few key Bhumij submit to the Lord, many others will follow.


Prayer Points

Pray for Bhumij elders to open the door for Christ's servants to take the gospel to them.
Ask the Lord to raise up a triumphant church plating movement among each Bhumij tribe for the glory of his name.
Pray for spiritual discernment and hunger among the Bhumij people, and that they will find their answers in Jesus.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhumij in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bhumij
People Name in Country Bhumij
Alternate Names Bhumij Desua; Bhumija; Bhumjia; Chai Bin; Desua Bhumij; Kisan-Bhumij; भूमीज़
Population this Country 1,328,000
Population all Countries 1,363,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 27
People ID 16447
ROP3 Code 111603
ROP25 Code 301179
ROP25 Name Bhumij
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)
West Bengal
446,000
Odisha
336,000
Assam
272,000
Jharkhand
248,000
Tripura
15,000
Bihar
3,800
Arunachal Pradesh
2,300
Andaman and Nicobar
1,800
Manipur
600
Delhi
500
Maharashtra
100
Meghalaya
100
Chhattisgarh
60
Madhya Pradesh
40
Gujarat
10
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
  West Bengal 446,000
  Odisha 336,000
  Assam 272,000
  Jharkhand 248,000
  Tripura 15,000
  Bihar 3,800
  Arunachal Pradesh 2,300
  Andaman and Nicobar 1,800
  Manipur 600
  Delhi 500
  Maharashtra 100
  Meghalaya 100
  Chhattisgarh 60
  Madhya Pradesh 40
  Gujarat 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
91.29 %
Islam
0.15 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
7.52 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (557,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 62
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Assamese
177,000
Odia
154,000
Mundari
153,000
Santhali
18,000
Ho
17,000
Hindi
17,000
Munda
9,400
Sadri
8,800
Oriya, Adivasi
2,600
Maithili
2,000
Kuvi
1,600
Kudmali
600
Bhunjia
500
Bhojpuri
300
Kok Borok
300
Primary Language Bengali (557,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 62
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Assamese 177,000
  Odia 154,000
  Mundari 153,000
  Santhali 18,000
  Ho 17,000
  Hindi 17,000
  Munda 9,400
  Sadri 8,800
  Oriya, Adivasi 2,600
  Maithili 2,000
  Kuvi 1,600
  Kudmali 600
  Bhunjia 500
  Bhojpuri 300
  Kok Borok 300
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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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 Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali Jesus Film Project
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
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Photo Source Anonymous 
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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