Gowari in India

The Gowari have only been reported 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 Gowari are a tribal people of central India. The people of this community used to take their cattle into the forest for grazing. The government of India categorized this community as a Scheduled Tribe by the name of Gond Gowari. Hindu society gives them low status, and hence they have been kept down in the caste hierarchy. The main language of the Gowari is Marathi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Gowari are mainly engaged in cow-herding and in agrarian activity. They work mainly as landless laborers for higher caste landlords.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gowari practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Their brand of Hinduism is influenced by folk religion. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. 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 Gowari visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Gowari people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. They do not drink milk because they believe it is sin and stigma for their community. As an indigenous people, the Gowari are outside of the Hindu caste system. They face discrimination as a result.


What Are Their Needs?

The Gowari are mostly poor people who lack education and basic physical needs. They need the opportunity to enter into India's modern economy. The Gowari will need to learn literacy and new job skills if they are to improve their low place in Indian society.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Gowari people a desire to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Gowari people this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Gowari people and tell them the good news of Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Gowari in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Gowari
People Name in Country Gowari
Alternate Names Dorla; Gaur; Gawariya; Goar; गोवरी
Population this Country 551,000
Population all Countries 551,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 11
PeopleID3 16865
ROP3 Code 112147
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 6
Largest States
Maharashtra
472,000
Madhya Pradesh
76,000
Chhattisgarh
2,200
Andhra Pradesh
200
Telangana
100
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 6
  Maharashtra 472,000
  Madhya Pradesh 76,000
  Chhattisgarh 2,200
  Andhra Pradesh 200
  Telangana 100
  Karnataka 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.32 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.66 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Marathi (347,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Hindi
97,000
Gondi, Northern
26,000
Chhattisgarhi
15,000
Halbi
1,600
Bhatri
800
Odia
100
Korwa
80
Telugu
20
Primary Language Marathi (347,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 97,000
  Gondi, Northern 26,000
  Chhattisgarhi 15,000
  Halbi 1,600
  Bhatri 800
  Odia 100
  Korwa 80
  Telugu 20
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)
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 Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
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 Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Marathi 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 Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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 for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024