Adi Karnataka people are a scheduled caste that originated from Karnataka. They are also known as Balagai. They speak the Kannada and Tamil languages.

The Adi Karnatakas live in Mysore in Karnataka and the Nilgiri region of Tamil Nadu state.

They have sub groups, and they do not marry outside their group.

Adi Karnataka are laborers, some are land owners working in agriculture, carpentry, and for the government. They are educated, but their literacy level is not high. Women do the housework and do some paid work to help to support their families.

Adi Karnataka people are Hindu by religion and worship many gods. There are many forms of Hinduism each with their own deities and beliefs.

Nearly all Adi Karnataka people are Hindus, and their culture is locked into Hindu ways. Someone needs to show them how to make Jesus Christ central in their lives.

They need open hearts to hear God's answers to their spiritual problems.

Bible resources exist in Hindi, but Adi Karnataka people remain unreached.

* Pray that Adi Karnataka people will be liberated by God's Holy Spirit from the many ties that bind them to lives devoid of the loving Father's blessings.
* Pray they will see past their respective traditional worship to the futility of it all and experience a growing desire to know the truth of God's Word.
* Pray for the Lord to multiply the reception and influence of His Word among them, leading them to love Him with their whole being.
* Pray for the Holy Spirit to anoint Adi Karnataka families, especially the children and youth, and to raise up a new generation of fruitful, multiplying witnesses of Christ's mercy and love.

Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999