Tamadia in India

The Tamadia 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 Tamadia are also called Teli Bhumij or Tamaria. They have no cultural symbols or special dress to identify them. As a scheduled caste they have somewhat low status in Hindu society. They have no subgroups, but they do have their own clans and gotras. They live in northern Odisha.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Traditionally the Tamadia have been oil pressers, but machines are quickly taking over this work. They are often sharecroppers now, so they must maintain good relations with landed communities.

Like most peoples in India, rice is their staple food. A typical meal for the Tamadia would include rice, dal, a vegetable curry and sometimes fish. They can rarely afford meats like mutton.

The gotra (clan) is very important to the Tamadia people. They believe their gotras carry a mystic connection. Each gotra has a special animal that represents them. They must marry outside their gotra.

Children become members of their father’s gotra. In the past they married as children, but now the Tamadia people marry only as adults. They keep their marriages monogamous (between one man and one woman) except for rare cases. The marriage is defined by respect. A wife does not even speak the name of her husband. A husband must consider his wife to be an essential partner for their activities. They all treat elderly members of their family with respect.

In some ways, women take a low status role in the Tamadia family. All inheritance goes through the males. If the father dies, the wife is merely a steward of the family property until her oldest son is of age. Daughters are considered to be "temporary" members of the family since she will join another family when she marries.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though they worship Hindu gods and attend Hindu festivals, their hearts are linked to village deities. They have purjari (priests) who lead them in worshipping these spirits. If there is an epidemic, they hold a special ritual. Though they don’t have their own sacred specialists, the Tamadia appease their ancestral spirits each year.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tamadia people need to be given the chance to hear the life-changing gospel so they can enjoy life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Tamadia people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.

Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly.

Pray for the spiritual lives of the Tamadia people to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Tamadia in India.


References

People of India, Vol 16. K.S. Singh. 2013

https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/oct/14/ncst-gives-its-nod-for-inclusion-of-tamaria-community-in-st-list-of-jharkhand-2047268.html


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tamadia
People Name in Country Tamadia
Alternate Names तमदिया
Population this Country 1,400
Population all Countries 1,400
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19043
ROP3 Code 115523
ROP25 Code 307897
ROP25 Name Tamadia
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)
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 1
  Odisha 1,400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Odia (1,400 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Odia (1,400 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Odia

Primary Language:  Odia

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1809-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1815-2021)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Odia 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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General Gospel website in this language General / Other
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General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Training Zume Project
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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