Munda 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
Nagbansi 29,000

Introduction / History

The Munda probably came to India from South East Asia hundreds of years ago. Most Munda live across northeast and central India. Most Indian Hindus see the Munda as outside the caste system. The Munda are one of the largest tribal people groups of India. They are one of the Scheduled Classes, which means the Munda are guaranteed places in education and government jobs. The Munda speak many different regional languages including their own language of Mundari, Assamese and Hindi. During the colonial period much of their land was taken away and they became agricultural workers tied to the land.


Where Are they Located?

The Munda live primarily in the northeast Indian states of Assam, Jharkand, Odisha and West Bengal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Munda have traditionally been farm laborers, woodcutters and basket weavers. They live in their own villages although some educated Munda have moved to the cities. They are endogamous, that is, they marry within their community. Society is patriarchal with older men ruling over the villages. A newly married couple lives with or near the husband's parents. Sons inherit land, houses and possessions. The main occupation of the Munda men and women is agriculture with most working fields owned by others. Their main food is rice along with fruits and vegetables. The Munda have elaborate rituals to celebrate birth, death, engagement and marriage according to the Wikipedia article on the Munda.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Munda practice a religion called Sarnaism, the religion of the holy woods or Sal trees. Followers of Sarnaism worship the Creator God, Dharmesh or Singbonga and the Mother Earth Goddess, Chalapachho Devi. Those who practice Sarnaism worship in village temples or in sacred groves of Sal trees. Each village has one or more priests who lead in worship. A small percent of Munda call themselves Christians.


What Are Their Needs?

The Munda people need consistent and local medical care.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord would lead Christian workers to become friends with the Munda and help them with their medical, educational and business needs.
Pray the Munda Christians would receive Bible and leadership training and be willing to share the gospel with their brothers and sisters.
Pray that Bible believing churches would be established among the Munda.


Scripture Prayers for the Munda in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Munda
People Name in Country Munda
Alternate Names Colh; Haroko; Hor; Horohon; Horo-hon; Kaur; Manki; Mudus; Mundu; Mura; मुंडा
Population this Country 4,094,000
Population all Countries 4,353,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 13867
ROP3 Code 106893
ROP25 Code 305692
ROP25 Name Munda
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 24
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Assam
1,571,000
Jharkhand
1,393,000
Odisha
635,000
West Bengal
415,000
Chhattisgarh
17,000
Arunachal Pradesh
17,000
Tripura
16,000
Bihar
16,000
Madhya Pradesh
5,800
Manipur
2,600
Andaman and Nicobar
2,400
Uttar Pradesh
1,100
Nagaland
700
Rajasthan
600
Maharashtra
500
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 24  (only 20 largest shown)
  Assam 1,571,000
  Jharkhand 1,393,000
  Odisha 635,000
  West Bengal 415,000
  Chhattisgarh 17,000
  Arunachal Pradesh 17,000
  Tripura 16,000
  Bihar 16,000
  Madhya Pradesh 5,800
  Manipur 2,600
  Andaman and Nicobar 2,400
  Uttar Pradesh 1,100
  Nagaland 700
  Rajasthan 600
  Maharashtra 500
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.05 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
20.60 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
61.56 %
Islam
0.20 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
17.58 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Mundari (1,144,000 speakers)
Language Code unr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 93
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Assamese
971,000
Bengali
318,000
Sadri
308,000
Odia
288,000
Munda
180,000
Hindi
138,000
Maithili
63,000
Santhali
50,000
Ho
43,000
Kurux
42,000
Panchpargania
42,000
Chhattisgarhi
20,000
Sadri, Oraon
8,200
Kuvi
4,800
Bhojpuri
2,700
Primary Language Mundari (1,144,000 speakers)
Language Code unr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 93
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Assamese 971,000
  Bengali 318,000
  Sadri 308,000
  Odia 288,000
  Munda 180,000
  Hindi 138,000
  Maithili 63,000
  Santhali 50,000
  Ho 43,000
  Kurux 42,000
  Panchpargania 42,000
  Chhattisgarhi 20,000
  Sadri, Oraon 8,200
  Kuvi 4,800
  Bhojpuri 2,700
People Groups Speaking Mundari
Photo Source Ramesh Lalwani - Flickr  Creative Commons 
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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