Tribal Thoti in India

The Tribal Thoti 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 Thoti are a small group of tribal people who live in southeast India. Most have integrated into Indian society and become Hindus. Many now work as agricultural laborers. A smaller portion of the Thoti people still lives as a tribal people in the forests of Telangana. The Indian government has classified the Thoti as a Scheduled Tribe, which gives them public jobs and special consideration for university admissions. A large proportion of the Thoti are unable to read and write.
The two main languages of the Thoti are Telegu and Tamil. Many Christian resources are available in both languages.


Where Are they Located?

This tribe lives mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, states in southeastern India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Thoti are a tribal people in transition. Many have left the tribal lands seeking a better life in more urban areas of southeast India. Most of these people are working as agricultural laborers as they lack education necessary for most jobs in modern India.

Thoti women were traditionally tattoo artists for the larger Gond tribes. Some still practice this trade while others work as domestics or in farming.

Since the Thoti are a tribal people, they are considered outside of the Hindu caste system. This means they are viewed as even lower than the lowest caste. They face discrimination is getting jobs and gaining entrance to school for their children.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Thoti tribe practices Hinduism missed with animism. They worship and serve selected gods of the Hindu pantheon. They offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefit. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Thoti 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.


What Are Their Needs?

The Thoti need schools for their children. They need access to modern medicine. They need to learn how to read and write. They need to learn new jobs skills. Most of all, the Thoti need to hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can get them right with the one, true God of the Bible.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Thoti people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Thoti families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Thoti people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Thoti people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.


Scripture Prayers for the Thoti, tribal in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoti
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321216753_Demographic_Profile_of_Thoti_-_A_Primitive_Tribal_Population_of_Andhra_Pradesh
https://www.indiantribalheritage.org/?tag=thoti
https://www.worldcat.org/title/thoti-tribe-of-andhra-pradesh-a-demo-genetic-study/oclc/56368695
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/indias-endangered-tribal-groups-see-rise-in-population/articleshow/22046702.cms?from=mdr


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Thoti, tribal
People Name in Country Thoti, tribal
Natural Name Tribal Thoti
Alternate Names Paki; Paky; तोती, ट्राइब
Population this Country 5,600
Population all Countries 5,600
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18249
ROP3 Code 113781
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 3
Largest States
Telangana
5,300
Maharashtra
200
Tamil Nadu
90
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 3
  Telangana 5,300
  Maharashtra 200
  Tamil Nadu 90
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.28 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.04 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.30 %
Islam
0.57 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.10 %
Unknown
0.71 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Telugu (2,700 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Gondi, Northern
1,300
Gondi, Aheri
600
Marathi
200
Hindi
40
Gondi, Adilabad
10
Konkani
10
Bhili
Primary Language Telugu (2,700 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Gondi, Northern 1,300
  Gondi, Aheri 600
  Marathi 200
  Hindi 40
  Gondi, Adilabad 10
  Konkani 10
  Bhili 0
People Groups Speaking Telugu

Primary Language:  Telugu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2022)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Telugu 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 The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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.


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