Pardhan 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 Pardhan are a subgroup of the Dravidian, tribal Gond people who live in central India. The traditional occupation of the Pardhan is that of being singers and musicians at festivals and important life ceremonies. Most Pardhan today are agricultural workers who cultivate wheat, sorghum, vegetables and fruit. Some also make their living by weaving and producing bamboo articles.

When the Aryans migrated into the Gond lands, some Gond submitted to their rule while other groups fought them only to be defeated by superior Aryan military technology. The Pardhan became the servants and slaves of the Aryans. As a tribal people they were considered outside the Hindu system and therefore outcastes.

The Pardhan are a Scheduled Casted meaning they receive special treatment in public jobs and university admission. Many Pardhan possess only a minimum of education so the India government is working to alleviate the problem.

The primary language of the Pardhan people is their own Pardhan language. Some Pardhan also speak Hindi, Marathi and Gondi


Where Are they Located?

The large majority of the Pardhan live in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Pardhan musicians have prodigious memories. Often they can recite hour-long epics and genealogies from memory in two or more languages. The two instruments they play are the kingri, a three stringed violin and a small harp called a bana. The Pardhan perform at births, weddings, funerals and Hindu holidays. The money they receive is donations from the participants. The Pardhan also function as Hindu priests in blessing babies and animals. Most Pardhan live in rural villages while some have moved to cities.

The Pardhan marry within their caste but not in their own clan or gotra. Families arrange marriages. The newly wed couple lives with or near the groom's parents. Sons inherit property with the eldest son taking the family house.

The main foods of the Pardhan are sorghum, wheat, vegetables and fruit. Due to their economic plight, meat and rice are eaten only on special occasions.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Pardhan practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. 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 Pardhan visit Hindu shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. Sometimes they are denied entrance to Hindu temples due to their low class status.

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


What Are Their Needs?

The Pardhan need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need help in learning new job skills and in educating their children. Agricultural experts could help them increase the crop yield of their farms.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those Christians ministering to the Pardhan people.
Pray for Pardhan families to be drawn to Jesus and to the Bible and away from their Hindu gods.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Pardhan people love for God's Word and a desire to spread its influence.
Ask the Lord to raise up and send out a new generation of fruitful, multiplying Christians among the Pardhan.


Scripture Prayers for the Pardhan in India.


References

2.oberlin.edu/faculty/rknight/pardhan.ht


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Pardhan
People Name in Country Pardhan
Alternate Names Desai; Parganiha; Parganika; Patadi; Pataria; Pathari; Pradhan; Prodhana; Saroti; पर्धन
Population this Country 358,000
Population all Countries 358,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
PeopleID3 17848
ROP3 Code 113322
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 11
Largest States
Maharashtra
164,000
Madhya Pradesh
139,000
Telangana
28,000
Chhattisgarh
15,000
Odisha
11,000
Jharkhand
400
Karnataka
100
Sikkim
80
Tamil Nadu
50
Goa
30
Andhra Pradesh
30
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 11
  Maharashtra 164,000
  Madhya Pradesh 139,000
  Telangana 28,000
  Chhattisgarh 15,000
  Odisha 11,000
  Jharkhand 400
  Karnataka 100
  Sikkim 80
  Tamil Nadu 50
  Goa 30
  Andhra Pradesh 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.12 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.15 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
95.51 %
Islam
0.22 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
3.97 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Pardhan (122,000 speakers)
Language Code pch   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 38
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marathi
87,000
Hindi
63,000
Gondi, Northern
16,000
Telugu
10,000
Odia
9,100
Chhattisgarhi
5,300
Gondi, Adilabad
800
Bhili
700
Gujarati
400
Halbi
300
Gondi, Aheri
200
Kolami, Northwestern
200
Santhali
200
Kurux
100
Korku
70
Primary Language Pardhan (122,000 speakers)
Language Code pch   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 38
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marathi 87,000
  Hindi 63,000
  Gondi, Northern 16,000
  Telugu 10,000
  Odia 9,100
  Chhattisgarhi 5,300
  Gondi, Adilabad 800
  Bhili 700
  Gujarati 400
  Halbi 300
  Gondi, Aheri 200
  Kolami, Northwestern 200
  Santhali 200
  Kurux 100
  Korku 70
People Groups Speaking Pardhan

Primary Language:  Pardhan

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2014)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) 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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Pardhan Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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