Dhodia in India


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

Introduction / History

The Dhodia are located in the extreme southeastern districts of Gujarat, a state in northwestern India. Their villages lie in the hilly regions south of the Tapi River. The Dhodia are the highest ranking tribe and the third largest tribal group in Gujarat. They speak Dhodia, a Bhil language.

Long ago, prosperity within Gujarat State attracted people from all the surrounding states. Gujarat became a target of the Maratha tribes, who made annual raids to the region for several years. Eventually, the Muslims fortified the area east of Surat in order to reap its economic benefits. War continued between the Monghals, the Maratha, and the Portuguese over the Gujarat territory.

By 1817, the British had risen to power. In the years that followed, they attempted to mend what the Maratha had left by dispersing farmland among the settlers. In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi demanded the British to withdraw from India. The Dhodia, a non-aggressive people, retreated deeper into the hills during the conflict.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Dhodia consider themselves to be of a higher class than the neighboring Bhil groups. They will not marry other Bhil or even eat with them. Some exceptions are allowed, however, with the Chodhari Bhil. They have more than one wife when they can afford it. The wives are bought while they are still young girls. In times past, it was customary to take the bride to the groom's house for the wedding. Today, however, the young couple generally travel to the bride's house to be married. A widow usually remains a part of her husband's family by marrying her deceased husband's brother.

The Dhodia participate in festivals alongside the Hindus who live nearby. They are not really community-minded, but only come together for such things as annual communal fishing and religious feasts. Village leaders only perform certain social duties.

The Dhodia are related to the many Bhil tribes of India. The name "Bhil" comes from the word billee, which literally means "bow." The bow is the characteristic weapon of most Bhil tribes. Ironically, the Dhodia, unlike their Bhil relatives, do not use bows and arrows.

Most Dhodia have given up the nomadic lifestyles of their ancestors and have settled into farming. Forest labor, trade labor (in the cities), hunting, and fishing are secondary to agriculture. Some live in the Surat district, an area well known for its rich soils and fine cotton crop. Others live in areas where, because of the heavy rainfall, they are able to cultivate rice. Still others live in the less fertile, highland areas.

The Dhodia go to the markets to trade their crops for clothing. The women wear blouses under dark green or red cotton saris (long pieces of cloth that are wrapped around the waist and over one shoulder). They also wear necklaces made of lead beads and rupee coins, and silver anklets. Most of the men wear either a "Gandhi" cap or a turban wrapped out of a piece of cloth. Shorts have also become popular among the men.

Dhodia houses are usually scattered near the streams so that they might easily fish and draw water for themselves and their cattle. The homes are typically built by hired labor. They are small bamboo huts made with tiled roofs. The poorer Dhodia live in mud huts that they build themselves. The doors always face north in order to prevent interaction with evil spirits.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The great majority of the Dhodia Bhil practice ethnic religions. They have deep-rooted beliefs in demons and witches. They worship groups of deities made of shapeless pieces of stone or wood.

The Dhodia have no temples or places to hold their religious ceremonies. They have only a few stones that have been painted and placed under trees. They believe that the supernatural beings dwell there.


What Are Their Needs?

Many Dhodia are addicted to alcohol and will sell all they possess for a drink. They need to experience the liberating power of Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will break up the soil through worship and intercession.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth faithful Christian laborers to live among the Dhodia and teach them of God's love.
Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies focusing on the Dhodia.
Ask God to give the Dhodia believers boldness to share the Gospel with their own people.


Scripture Prayers for the Dhodia in India.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Dhodia
People Name in Country Dhodia
Pronunciation DOH-dee-ah
Alternate Names Dhobi; Dhodi; Dhori; Dhoria; Doria; धोड़िया
Population this Country 807,000
Population all Countries 818,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 16
People ID 16710
ROP3 Code 111945
ROP25 Code 302073
ROP25 Name Dhodia
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 8
Largest States
Gujarat
754,000
Dadra and Nagar Have
29,000
Maharashtra
21,000
Daman and Diu
2,800
Goa
300
Telangana
80
Rajasthan
50
Karnataka
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 8
  Gujarat 754,000
  Dadra and Nagar Have 29,000
  Maharashtra 21,000
  Daman and Diu 2,800
  Goa 300
  Telangana 80
  Rajasthan 50
  Karnataka 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.03 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.08 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.59 %
Islam
0.18 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.05 %
Unknown
0.07 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (467,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 24
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Dhodia
200,000
Marathi
5,100
Bhili
3,700
Konkani
2,500
Hindi
1,300
Kannada
200
Telugu
200
Dangi
200
Kacchi
40
Urdu
40
Odia
30
Tamil
30
Malayalam
30
Punjabi, Eastern
20
Bengali
10
Primary Language Gujarati (467,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 24
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Dhodia 200,000
  Marathi 5,100
  Bhili 3,700
  Konkani 2,500
  Hindi 1,300
  Kannada 200
  Telugu 200
  Dangi 200
  Kacchi 40
  Urdu 40
  Odia 30
  Tamil 30
  Malayalam 30
  Punjabi, Eastern 20
  Bengali 10
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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Photo Source Kajal84 - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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