The two main languages of the Balija are Kannada and Telugu. Many also speak Tamil. The Hindu Balija people reside in South India mostly in the states of Andhra Prades, Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu.
They are an ethnic minority with only a small political voice in domestic and governmental affairs. They derive their income from a variety of sources. Some trade in bangles, pearls, and salt, while others have turned to farming and land ownership. A few have jobs in government and medical services.
The social life of the Balija follows along lines of the caste system. They marry outside the clan, but only within their people group. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit their father's property. Widows are not allowed to remarry. Sons have the responsibility of taking care of elderly parents. They are not vegetarians but as Hindus do not eat beef. They are allowed to drink alcohol, a factor that indicates a low caste status. Alcoholism is a problem among these people.
The Balija tend to have large families. Their rural villages often lack access to modern medicine and clean water. These factors result in high child mortality. Children often quit school after a few years to help support their families. Illiteracy is a major issue for Balija women and girls. Many young people are leaving the villages and moving to Indian cities in hope of a better life.
The Balija people practice Hinduism, 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 like Christians. 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, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.
Rural Balija need good schools for their children. They need new job skills if they are to make progress in Indian society. These people need to realize that they cannot please God without being empowered by the Holy Spirit. They cannot have the Holy Spirit without having Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Balija would experience true spiritual freedom in Christ this decade.
Pray that neighboring Indian believers would take the gospel to Balija communities.
Pray for Balija followers of Christ to find fellowship and disciple others who in turn will disciple others.
Ask the Lord to send Holy Spirit anointed workers to the Balija.
Pray that Balija parents would be able to provide for their children with better schools.
Ask the Lord to raise up a disciple making movement among the Balija in this decade.
Scripture Prayers for the Balija (Hindu traditions) in India.
https://www.cs.odu.edu/~salam/wsdl/inforet/wikihtml/Balija.html
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Castes_and_Tribes_of_Southern_India/Balija
https://www.indianetzone.com/50/balija_caste.htm
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-08-06 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-01-19 |
People Name General | Balija (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Balija (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | BAH-lee-jah |
Alternate Names | Ambiga; Balegara; Baliga; Balija Naidu; Besta; Bestala; Bestar; Bholla; Bogam; Boya Bestha; Chetti Balija; Deogarhiya Gond; Gajula; Gangemakkalu; Gavara; Gazula; Gazula Balija; Gazut Balija; Gudem Dasari; Kabbera; Kasba; Kasban; Kasbi; Kasbi Khelna; Kasbin; Khelda; Khelta; Kisbe; Mannur; Munnur; Mutrasi; Naidu; Parivara; Parivarattar; Rajamandir; Siviar; Siviyar; Thogra; Thota Balija; Toreyar; Vaduga; Vaidu; Valia; Varala; Veerasaiva Lingayat; बलिजा (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 1,803,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,803,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 36 |
People ID | 16312 |
ROP3 Code | 111442 |
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 | 20 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 20 |
Karnataka 1,028,000 | |
Telangana 315,000 | |
Tamil Nadu 239,000 | |
Odisha 82,000 | |
Maharashtra 51,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 24,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 15,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 5,700 | |
Kerala 1,700 | |
Jharkhand 800 | |
Delhi 500 | |
Bihar 400 | |
Gujarat 300 | |
Goa 300 | |
Chandigarh 70 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.01 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.31 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.68 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Kannada (838,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 13 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Kannada (838,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 13 |
Secondary Languages | |
Telugu 819,000 | |
Tamil 82,000 | |
Odia 21,000 | |
Tulu 4,700 | |
Chhattisgarhi 4,600 | |
Konkani 2,400 | |
Marathi 2,100 | |
Konkani, Goan 1,500 | |
Gondi, Northern 1,400 | |
Hindi 700 | |
Kurux 200 | |
Kui 200 | |
People Groups | Speaking Kannada |
Primary Language: Kannada
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1812-1988) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1823-2023) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1827-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2023 India Missions Association All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |