Mahadev Koli 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 Koli people are also called Dongar or Raj Koli. Generally Koli means a fisherman but the Koli people's primary occupation is agriculture. The Mahadev Koli derive their name from their god Mahadev and live in the Mahadev hills of Maharashtra.

They are found mostly in the Pune, Ahmednagar and Nasik districts of Maharashtra. They speak Marathi and use the Devanagari script. There are twenty-four exogamous clans among the Mahadev Koli and they use their clan's names as their surnames.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Their staple food consists of rice, nagli, varai and wheat. Other than agriculture they are also involved in cattle production, dairy and poultry farming and wage labour as subsidiary occupations.

They resemble the Kunbi and the Maratha communities in matters of dress and appearance. They live in nuclear families. Bride price plays an important part in marriage. The marriage ceremony lasts for three to four days. They allow for divorce and remarriage. They bury their dead, but in some cases they cremate.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Mahadev Koli follow a number of Hindu traditions. Members of each clan have their own deity.


What Are Their Needs?

The Mahadev Koli people need the opportunity to allow Jesus Christ to enrich their lives physically, economically and spiritually. Some Mahadev Koli villages are without electricity. Solar panels would greatly improve their lives. They often lack access to clean water and modern medicine. The Mahadev Koli must hear and understand the message about Jesus Christ to have their sins forgiven and to obtain eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray for a movement to Christ among the Mahadev Koli community.

Pray for more literacy and development programs and better schools.

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive them to Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Koli Mahadev in India.


References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Koli Mahadev
People Name in Country Koli Mahadev
Natural Name Mahadev Koli
Pronunciation mah-HAH-dev KOH-lee
Alternate Names Dongar; Dongar Koli; Maahadev; Mahadeo; Mahadew; Maideo; Raj Koli; कोली महादेव
Population this Country 1,986,000
Population all Countries 2,015,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 40
People ID 17210
ROP3 Code 112576
ROP25 Code 304135
ROP25 Name Koli (ST)
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 22
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Maharashtra
1,774,000
Gujarat
112,000
Karnataka
35,000
Madhya Pradesh
28,000
Rajasthan
8,000
Odisha
7,600
Telangana
7,100
Goa
4,800
Tamil Nadu
2,800
Uttar Pradesh
1,100
Andhra Pradesh
1,000
Chhattisgarh
900
Delhi
800
Kerala
500
Dadra and Nagar Have
300
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 22  (only 20 largest shown)
  Maharashtra 1,774,000
  Gujarat 112,000
  Karnataka 35,000
  Madhya Pradesh 28,000
  Rajasthan 8,000
  Odisha 7,600
  Telangana 7,100
  Goa 4,800
  Tamil Nadu 2,800
  Uttar Pradesh 1,100
  Andhra Pradesh 1,000
  Chhattisgarh 900
  Delhi 800
  Kerala 500
  Dadra and Nagar Have 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.19 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.07 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.37 %
Islam
0.20 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.03 %
Unknown
0.15 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Marathi (1,412,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 42
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Gujarati
85,000
Kannada
40,000
Konkani, Goan
21,000
Hindi
20,000
Konkani
19,000
Telugu
14,000
Ahirani
8,000
Odia
5,700
Bhili
5,700
Khandesi
3,000
Sindhi
900
Nimadi
600
Urdu
300
Gondi, Northern
300
Malvi
100
Primary Language Marathi (1,412,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 42
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Gujarati 85,000
  Kannada 40,000
  Konkani, Goan 21,000
  Hindi 20,000
  Konkani 19,000
  Telugu 14,000
  Ahirani 8,000
  Odia 5,700
  Bhili 5,700
  Khandesi 3,000
  Sindhi 900
  Nimadi 600
  Urdu 300
  Gondi, Northern 300
  Malvi 100
People Groups Speaking Marathi

Primary Language:  Marathi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1807-1957)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1982)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1821-2022)
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Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
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General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Marathi YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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