Bhumia in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Bhumia scheduled tribe are also known as Bhumia Thakur to their neighbors. They live in Madya Pradesh, in the plains from Kami to Jabalpur. They are believed to be the early settlers in the Jabalpur region. The name Bhumia is connected to the word "bhumi" which means "land."

Operation World states, "India's ancient, complex, and often difficult t understand past, its racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity, and the caste system, all make detailed population analysis very difficult."


Where Are they Located?

Bhumia people live in central India. They speak Jabalpuri and Hindu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Bhumia people are usually wage earners, and only a few of them are landowners. They work in the agricultural fields of the Bania Brahmin, Kayashta, and Rajput for wages, and they collect forest products. Some operate grocery shops. Illiteracy is not a problem among them.

Marriages with the daughter of the mother's brother and the daughter of the father's sister are allowed. All sons have equal shares in the property. Women are involved in many matters concerning money. Justice in society is looked after by a council of village elders. Many use family planning. Little progress has been made in education.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They are partial Hindu believers, also worshiping ancestors, national, village, and clan gods.
They cremate the dead and perform death rites on the ninth or tenth day after death, then have a funeral feast.


What Are Their Needs?

Scripture resources are available in the Hindi language spoken by Bhumia people, however they are considered an unreached people group. They are largely independent and consequently do not see their need for the Savior. Their worship of many gods perhaps fills an emotional need, but cannot touch their genuine spiritual need.


Prayer Points

Pray that key Bhumia persons will become interested in Jesus via film, recordings, and radio which are available.
Pray that God will raise up Indian churches to boldly and lovingly evangelize this people group.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among them.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhumia in India.


References

Singh, K.S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z," Oxford University Press, USA 1999


Profile Source:   Karent Hightower  

People Name General Bhumia
People Name in Country Bhumia
Alternate Names Baiga; Bhumia Thakur; Bhuri Bhumia; Bodo Bhumia; Thakur; भूमिया
Population this Country 179,000
Population all Countries 179,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
PeopleID3 16420
ROP3 Code 111571
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 4
Largest States
Odisha
144,000
Madhya Pradesh
35,000
Delhi
100
Andhra Pradesh
40
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 4
  Odisha 144,000
  Madhya Pradesh 35,000
  Delhi 100
  Andhra Pradesh 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.98 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.87 %
Islam
0.08 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.06 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Odia (70,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 25
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
31,000
Bhatri
27,000
Chhattisgarhi
16,000
Pengo
8,500
Halbi
1,900
Bundeli
1,700
Desiya
900
Oriya, Adivasi
400
Mundari
300
Bagheli
100
Koya
100
Telugu
90
Kannada
90
Marathi
70
Punjabi, Eastern
50
Primary Language Odia (70,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 25
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 31,000
  Bhatri 27,000
  Chhattisgarhi 16,000
  Pengo 8,500
  Halbi 1,900
  Bundeli 1,700
  Desiya 900
  Oriya, Adivasi 400
  Mundari 300
  Bagheli 100
  Koya 100
  Telugu 90
  Kannada 90
  Marathi 70
  Punjabi, Eastern 50
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)
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 Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
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
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Oriya) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Odia YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Odia (Oriya) / English Bible (AKJV) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible App: Odiya Bible (ଓଡିଆ ବାଇବେଲ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Oriya Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Odiya Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Odia YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Odiya Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Karent Hightower 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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