Khasi in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Khasi people live in the Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya. Khasi is a generic name given to various tribes and sub-tribes who live there. They had migrated from the Southeast Asia to the hills of Northeast India. They have a number of clans such as Lyngdoh, Diengdoh, Marbaniang, Shiemliah, Lapang and Songkali.

The Khasi are generally people of short stature. Their mother tongue is Khasi.

They are divided into several matrilineal clans such as Mawlong, Khongweer and Symley. The youngest daughter inherits the ancestral property and daughters are given preference in the division of property while males can own only self-acquired property. Even Christians are known to pass down their ancestral property through the female line.

Khasi women enjoy a high social status and play a significant role in socio-economic matters and household management. Many Khasi have taken up professions in civil services and in industries besides agriculture. Western Music and musical instruments are becoming popular among them.

A vast majority of the Khasis are Christians while there are some groups of Hindu and Muslim too among them. The Khasi Muslims came from the other states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. They came as traders to the Jaintia hills of Meghalaya and married Khasi women. Among the Muslims too the youngest daughter inherits the parental property. Boys are circumcised before the age of ten. The Muslim Khasi mainly depends on trade and white colour jobs.

Alternate names: Khasi Bhoi, Khynriam, Lyingam, War, Khmer


Prayer Points

For the salvation of the Khasi people.
For the Khasi Christians to reach out to the Khasi Muslims and Hindus in their region.
For social equality in matters concerning the genders.


Scripture Prayers for the Khasi in India.


Profile Source:   India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Khasi
People Name in Country Khasi
Alternate Names Bhoi; Jaintia; Khasa; Khasia; Khuchia; Ky; Kyi; Lungngam; Pnar; Ri Lum; Synteng; ख़ासी
Population this Country 1,491,000
Population all Countries 1,515,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 12654
ROP3 Code 104918
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 17
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Meghalaya
1,411,000
Assam
49,000
West Bengal
1,700
Nagaland
1,300
Mizoram
1,200
Maharashtra
600
Arunachal Pradesh
600
Andaman and Nicobar
500
Tamil Nadu
500
Tripura
400
Manipur
300
Delhi
300
Kerala
40
Uttar Pradesh
40
Chandigarh
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 17
  Meghalaya 1,411,000
  Assam 49,000
  West Bengal 1,700
  Nagaland 1,300
  Mizoram 1,200
  Maharashtra 600
  Arunachal Pradesh 600
  Andaman and Nicobar 500
  Tamil Nadu 500
  Tripura 400
  Manipur 300
  Delhi 300
  Kerala 40
  Uttar Pradesh 40
  Chandigarh 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.14 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
84.41 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
1.22 %
Islam
0.39 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
13.83 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Khasi (1,313,000 speakers)
Language Code kha   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 29
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
War-Jaintia
15,000
Garo
5,500
Assamese
4,400
Pnar
2,700
Hindi
1,700
Karbi
1,500
Lyngngam
1,000
Bengali
800
English
800
Naga, Inpui: Naga, Kabui
700
Tiwa
600
Marathi
600
Nepali
500
Mizo
300
Boro
300
Primary Language Khasi (1,313,000 speakers)
Language Code kha   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 29
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  War-Jaintia 15,000
  Garo 5,500
  Assamese 4,400
  Pnar 2,700
  Hindi 1,700
  Karbi 1,500
  Lyngngam 1,000
  Bengali 800
  English 800
  Naga, Inpui: Naga, Kabui 700
  Tiwa 600
  Marathi 600
  Nepali 500
  Mizo 300
  Boro 300
People Groups Speaking Khasi
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.