Yenadi 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.

Subgroups: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Challa 38,000

Introduction / History

For many years, the Yenadi people lived in isolation on the island of Sri Harikota, off Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district. In 1835, the British government took possession of the island. The British opened schools and industries to try to "civilize" the Yenadi people by showing them a more modern way of life. These efforts were not successful. The Yenadi people are among what the Indian government calls the "scheduled tribes. " Because scheduled tribes are underdeveloped economically, the Indian government has attempted to bring them into the mainstream of political and economic life. These tribes were "scheduled" for special treatment. The Yenadi are now located in Andhra Pradesh in southern India. They live primarily in the districts of Nellore and Chittoor, as well as other nearby districts. They speak Yanadi, which belongs to the Telugu language family. There are four Yenadi clans.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Yenadi people have a history of being exploited by crooked money lenders leaving them in debt peonage. They are news articles about people trying to help the Yenadi people get their basic needs met. For example, there is public housing for them. Another group is trying to make sure Yenadi children are able to complete their education. Child marriage has been a problem in the past, and the Indian government is finding ways to keep them from this practice that usually leads to a life of poverty. Finally, there is an effort to legally help the Yenadi people recover their land from those who exploit them. This is especially important since land ownership means the difference between poverty and having needs met. When they don't own the land, they wind up working for others, often only being paid with scraps of food. Though they are best known as farm hands, some fish and catches frogs. Others search the forests for goods they can sell.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Yenadi are nearly all Hindu. They have pictures of their gods in their homes and small shrines are usually located in each village. Every year they have festivals in worship of their favorite gods. These gods supposedly favor some and dislike others, depending on how they performed a ritual. Good luck and fate are important to the Yenadi. They believe that charms, amulets, and "lucky people" generate good fortune.


What Are Their Needs?

The Yenadi people need better schools and hospitals. Perhaps Christian teachers and medical workers can open doors to reach the Yanadi.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Yenadi 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 families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group. Pray for the spiritual lives of the Yenadi people to become fruitful as they follow Christ. Pray for the lives and culture of the Yenadi 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 Yenadi in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Yenadi
People Name in Country Yenadi
Alternate Names Irlollu; Malauasi; Malavasi; Nakampadi; Villuwaru; Yadi; Yanadi; Yanati; Yenadis; Yenadri; Yendari; एनडी
Population this Country 788,000
Population all Countries 788,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 16
PeopleID3 18339
ROP3 Code 113891
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 21
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Andhra Pradesh
629,000
Tamil Nadu
99,000
Karnataka
23,000
Odisha
20,000
Maharashtra
5,000
Telangana
4,800
Kerala
2,100
Puducherry
1,800
West Bengal
900
Gujarat
400
Andaman and Nicobar
400
Chhattisgarh
300
Assam
300
Delhi
300
Jharkhand
200
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 21  (only 20 largest shown)
  Andhra Pradesh 629,000
  Tamil Nadu 99,000
  Karnataka 23,000
  Odisha 20,000
  Maharashtra 5,000
  Telangana 4,800
  Kerala 2,100
  Puducherry 1,800
  West Bengal 900
  Gujarat 400
  Andaman and Nicobar 400
  Chhattisgarh 300
  Assam 300
  Delhi 300
  Jharkhand 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.80 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.87 %
Islam
0.13 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.18 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Telugu (681,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
Tamil
14,000
Kannada
2,600
Urdu
200
Odia
100
Hindi
100
Marathi
100
Koya
10
Gondi, Northern Kharia
Malayalam Nepali Santhali
English Bhili
Primary Language Telugu (681,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 14,000
  Kannada 2,600
  Urdu 200
  Odia 100
  Hindi 100
  Marathi 100
  Koya 10
  Gondi, Northern 10
  Kharia 10
  Malayalam 10
  Nepali 10
  Santhali 0
  English 0
  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)
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Telugu Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
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Mobile App Android Bible App: Telugu Bible (తెలుగు బైబిల్) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
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Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Telugu Literacy & Evangelism International
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 John Kless 
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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