Banijiga in India

The Banijiga 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: 3

Subgroup Name Population
Athnikar 52,000
Chilni 52,000
Dhulpavad 52,000

Introduction / History

The Lingayat have a subgroup called the Banajiga who live in Karnataka in India. They speak, read and write in Kannada. They live in Belgaum and other regions of Karnataka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They have cousin marriages and have birth and marriage rituals. The dead are buried in a sitting position, and they have yearly ancestor worship ceremonies.

They work in cultivation, trading and business. Most are vegetarians who each wheat and rice as their staple foods. There are professionals among them such as teachers, doctors and engineers. Their children go to school.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Banijiga people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Banijiga people need to put their trust and identity in the hands of the loving God of creation who sent his son to make it possible for them to enter the Kingdom of God.


Prayer Points

Pray for them to understand and respond to Christ.

Pray God will have mercy on the Banijiga doing whatever it takes to place them in a position to receive him.

Ask God to open the hearts of the Banijiga to the gospel.

Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Banijiga in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Banijiga
People Name in Country Banijiga
Alternate Names Adi Banijiga; Agni; Balegara; बनिजिगा
Population this Country 893,000
Population all Countries 893,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 18
People ID 16473
ROP3 Code 111639
ROP25 Code 300798
ROP25 Name Banajiga
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 9
Largest States
Karnataka
843,000
Maharashtra
20,000
Tamil Nadu
17,000
Andhra Pradesh
5,100
Telangana
4,200
Kerala
1,500
Goa
1,400
Delhi
200
Gujarat
80
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 9
  Karnataka 843,000
  Maharashtra 20,000
  Tamil Nadu 17,000
  Andhra Pradesh 5,100
  Telangana 4,200
  Kerala 1,500
  Goa 1,400
  Delhi 200
  Gujarat 80
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.12 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.75 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
1.14 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kannada (604,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Telugu
122,000
Tulu
14,000
Tamil
6,100
Marathi
4,100
Konkani
1,400
Konkani, Goan
600
Primary Language Kannada (604,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Telugu 122,000
  Tulu 14,000
  Tamil 6,100
  Marathi 4,100
  Konkani 1,400
  Konkani, Goan 600
People Groups Speaking Kannada

Primary Language:  Kannada

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1988)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1823-2023)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2023)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
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 Jesus Film: view in Kannada 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
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General 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
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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