Tribal Chaudhari in India

The Tribal Chaudhari 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.

Introduction / History

The Chaudhari or Chaudhri are a tribal people who live in the west Indian state of Gujarat. They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe and are eligible for special public jobs and college admissions. Most Chaudhari work as agricultural laborers. Others work as small artisans in their villages. As a tribal people other communities tend to look down upon them. Illiteracy is a problem among the Chaudhari. Many of their villages lack modern conveniences.

The primary language of the Chaudhari is Gujarti.


Where Are they Located?

The Chaudhari live in Gujarat in west India. A small number of them live in Maharashtra.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Chaudhari marry within their tribe but not within their clan. Families arrange marriages through negotiation. The prospective son-in-law serves the girl's father for a fixed period, after which the marriage is solemnized. Monogamy is the common form of marriage arrangement, though polygamy is also permitted. Living within extended families is common practice.

All the sons get an equal share of the parental property, but the eldest son gains the father's title and the family home. The Chaudhari do not permit proprietary rights to women. On the fifth day after birth, the maternal uncle selects the name of the child. The dead are cremated, except for children and pregnant women, who are instead buried.

The main foods of the Chaudhari are rice, wheat, vegetables and fruit. Meat is reserved for special occasions and holidays.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Chaudhari practice Hinduism strongly influenced by folk religion. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon and their own tribal deities. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Chaudhari visit their tribal shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. They pray to be delivered from evil spirits. The Chaudhari, as a tribal people, have their own priests and do not use Brahmins.

The main yearly holidays of the Chaudhari people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the celebration of autumn.


What Are Their Needs?

As a rural tribal people of India, the Chaudhari have pressing needs. Most of all they need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. Fortunately, the Bible is available in their language of Gujarati. They need help in educating their children and in obtaining the benefits of modern medicine.


Prayer Points

Pray that the few Chaudhari who are Christians will lead others to Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Chaudhari council leaders will come to Jesus Christ and lead others to salvation.
Pray that God sends Christian workers to the Chaudhari to share the gospel with them and meet their physical needs.


Scripture Prayers for the Chaudhari, tribal in India.


References

peoplegroups.org/explore/GroupDetails.aspx?peid=41526
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaudhri


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Chaudhari, tribal
People Name in Country Chaudhari, tribal
Natural Name Tribal Chaudhari
Alternate Names Chaudhari; Chaudhri; Chodhari Bhil; Choudhra; Choudhuri; Choudhury; चौधरी (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 359,000
Population all Countries 359,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
People ID 18771
ROP3 Code 114450
ROP25 Code 301579
ROP25 Name Chaudhri / Chodhara (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 2
Largest States
Gujarat
359,000
Maharashtra
70
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 2
  Gujarat 359,000
  Maharashtra 70
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.62 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.09 %
Islam
0.16 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.10 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (152,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
Chodri
141,000
Bhili
8,100
Marathi
1,400
Hindi
300
Konkani
20
Odia
Telugu Malayalam Khandesi
Nepali English Bengali
Primary Language Gujarati (152,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
  Chodri 141,000
  Bhili 8,100
  Marathi 1,400
  Hindi 300
  Konkani 20
  Odia 10
  Telugu 0
  Malayalam 0
  Khandesi 0
  Nepali 0
  English 0
  Bengali 0
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)
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 Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
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 Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video 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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Anonymous  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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