Telugu-speaking South Asian in United States


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Many of India's states are named after a particular Indian language. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are home of most of India's Telegu speakers. Broadly speaking Indian languages are divided into the northern Aryan and the southern Dravidian branches. Telegu is a Dravidian language. Approximately 80 million people speak Telegu as their first language. Educated Telugu people speak fluent English. Many Telegu speakers come to the West and the USA seeking a better life for themselves and their children.

A complete Bible and many other Christian resources are available in Telegu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In the United States, South Asian communities jokingly call themselves "desis." A desi is an Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi person who lives abroad. Old religious and communal animosities are frequently put aside in this foreign land and these people become friends. They use English as their common language in South Asia and in the US.

However, each language group strives to have their own associations where they can speak the language of their hearts. For this reason, there are Telugu associations throughout the United States. Most of the Telugu speakers, or other South Asians are from professional backgrounds. Many own businesses or work in science, technology, education, and medicine. The children of the Telegu speakers often become indistinguishable from other American young people. Still the parents want their children to learn to speak Telegu and to continue to honor south Indian customs and culture.

Those who follow Christ in India tend to be from "backward" (lower, less powerful) caste backgrounds. Forward (higher, more powerful) caste members are the ones who have the opportunity to move to Western countries like the United States. For this reason, there are few believers among the Telugu speakers in the West. Pray for a breakthrough among forward caste Telugu speaking Hindus both in India and in the West.


What Are Their Beliefs?

South Asian Hindus are a small minority in a large nation like the United States. Hindu parents want their children and grandchildren to attend Hindu temples and to celebrate Hindu holidays. Young people are already losing much of their cultural uniqueness by speaking English as their first language.

The majority of the Telegu speaking people in the USA claim to be Hindus. Hinduism is the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring. Diwali is the festival of lights. Navratri the celebrates autumn and the harvest. Rama Navami remembers Rama's birthday.

Only a small fraction of the Telugu speakers in the USA claims to be followers of Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Needs?

Some "desi" groups like Tamil speakers already have fellowships of strong believers. Christians will have to find ways for Telugu speakers to follow Jesus without feeling like they are abandoning their traditional culture. Christians can help newly arrived South Indians in finding jobs and places to live.


Prayer Points

Pray for the kingdom of God to penetrate hearts of Telugu speakers in the West and in South India.

Pray that American churches reach out and share the good news with Telugu speakers in the USA.

Pray that the Telugu believers in the USA would grow strong in the faith and take the initiative to get the gospel to their family and friends.

Pray that Telugu in the USA would become open to spiritual things and realize that material wealth ultimately does not satisfy the human heart.


Scripture Prayers for the South Asian, Telugu-speaking in United States.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General South Asian, Telugu-speaking
People Name in Country South Asian, Telugu-speaking
Natural Name Telugu-speaking South Asian
Pronunciation TEL-uh-goo
Alternate Names Andhra; Telegu; Tolangan
Population this Country 431,000
Population all Countries 1,175,000
Total Countries 11
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 9
People ID 15324
ROP3 Code 109930
ROP25 Code 308052
ROP25 Name Telugu
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Substantial number in Los Angeles area   Source:  Joshua Project
Country United States
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Substantial number in Los Angeles area.   Source:  Joshua Project
Map of South Asian, Telugu-speaking in United States
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.60 %)
3.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Telugu (431,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Telugu (431,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
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 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 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
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: US Census ACS Language Spoken at Home. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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