There are two divisions of Bhil: the Central or "pure" Bhil, and the Eastern or part-Rajput Bhil. The Central Bhil live in the mountain regions of India, particularly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. They are known as the connecting link between the Gujarati and the Rajasthani. They speak Bhili, which is an Indo-Aryan language.
Many years ago, Bhil rajas (kings) permitted immigrants from the plains to settle in the hill regions. To safeguard their independence and rule, the Bhil fought against the Moghals, the Maratha, and the British.
Many Bhil are being threatened by the Sardar Saravor Dam project, which when completed will flood the land where many Bhil currently live. Though re-settlement plans have been discussed, they remain incomplete.
Today, the Bhil primarily work as peasant farmers, field laborers, and village watchmen. With a growth in population, most of their land holdings are small and generally non-productive. The people are experts in handling bows and arrows. In fact, the name "Bhil" was derived from the word billee, which means "bow." For years, the bow has been a characteristic weapon of the tribe, and the men usually carry their bows and arrows with them. The women wear brightly colored clothes. The city boys are distinctive from other Hindus because they tie rags around their heads, wear earrings, and carry swords or guns.
The Central Bhil are usually shy and love their independence. Festivals, dance, drama, and music are a large part of their culture. The length and enthusiasm for these events is usually directly proportional to the amount of alcohol that is consumed.
The Bhil usually marry within their own classes. If they do marry someone of another class, the person of the lower class must convert to the higher, leaving behind all family ties. This custom is strictly enforced among the tribes.
Each village is led by a head man who deals with disputes. Respect among family members is strong, and there is a great sense of connection between the living and the dead. Property is shared equally by the male descendants. Bhil villages are rather widely scattered. The houses are located in fields where millet, maize, wheat, and barley are grown. The highlanders live in tidy houses made with walls of sticks intertwined with small branches. The roofs (shaped like bee-hives), are usually made of clay tiles, but are sometimes made of straw and leaves.
Almost all of the Central Bhil practice ethnic religions that have been highly influenced by Hinduism. Shiva is considered the supreme god. Ancestor worship (praying to deceased ancestors) is also quite popular. Shamans (priests) are also called upon to offer sacrifices to the many gods and mud idols.
In spite of their traditional beliefs, there have been interesting manifestations of God's Spirit among the upper caste Bhagat gurus. They now worship light and "the Word," singing prophecies of the future, such as the coming sinless incarnation. At the turn of the century, one guru warned his disciples that there would be a great famine, after which they should look for teachers from the North and West who would teach them the true way of salvation from a book, free of cost. They would teach about the true God, and about a sinless Incarnation who was born of a virgin. The guru also said that they should worship this sinless, invisible God, turn away from stones and idols, and live blameless lives. A famine occurred in 1899-1900, soon after the guru's death.
There are three segregated classes: the Bhagat Bhil, the ordinary Bhil, and the lowest class-the Christian Bhil. To accept Christ is like becoming an outcast.
Much intercession is needed to see their eyes opened to the Truth.
* Scripture Prayers for the Bhil in India.
* Pray that God will raise up prayer teams to break up the soil through worship and intercession.
* Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go and share Christ with the Bhil.
* Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film among them.
* Ask God to provide open doors for Bhil believers to share the Gospel with their own people.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
Profile Source: Bethany World Prayer Center |
Global Prayer Digest: 2008-09-31 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-09-16 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-10-13 |
People Name General | Bhil |
People Name in Country | Bhil |
Pronunciation | beel |
Population this Country | 16,806,000 |
Population all Countries | 17,290,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 3 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 336 |
Alternate Names | Arejo; Arijo; Bhil Garasia; Bhilala; Bhim; Bilalla; Billava; Billavaor; Billawa; Dholi Bhil; Dugri Garasia; Dungra Bhil; Dungri Girasia; Garasia; Pacima; Pascima; Pujari; Tulu Bhillava; भील |
People ID | 16414 |
ROP3 Code | 111565 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Tribal - Bhil |
People Group | Bhil |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Tribal - Bhil |
People Group | Bhil |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 104 (only 15 largest shown) |
Valvi 54,000 | |
Mama 27,000 | |
Ninama 14,000 | |
Son 14,000 | |
Gopal 13,000 | |
Lengutia 12,000 | |
Mali 7,500 | |
Konkane 7,400 | |
Maji Rana 6,100 | |
Mungia 6,100 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 23 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 23 (only 20 largest shown) |
Madhya Pradesh 5,938,000 | |
Gujarat 4,192,000 | |
Rajasthan 4,067,000 | |
Maharashtra 2,582,000 | |
Dadra and Nagar Have 12,000 | |
Karnataka 6,200 | |
Tripura 3,100 | |
Delhi 1,800 | |
Odisha 1,300 | |
Chhattisgarh 1,000 | |
Telangana 600 | |
Jharkhand 600 | |
Uttar Pradesh 500 | |
Jammu and Kashmir 300 | |
Uttarakhand 200 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Hindi (3,991,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 85 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (3,991,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 85 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Gujarati 3,473,000 | |
Bhili 2,767,000 | |
Wagdi 1,692,000 | |
Marathi 1,025,000 | |
Vasavi 973,000 | |
Nimadi 768,000 | |
Dangi 406,000 | |
Marwari 318,000 | |
Bareli, Pauri 310,000 | |
Mewari 240,000 | |
Khandesi 187,000 | |
Mawchi 152,000 | |
Dungra Bhil 139,000 | |
Bareli, Rathwi 106,000 | |
Malvi 96,000 | |
People Groups | Speaking Hindi |
Primary Language: Hindi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1806-1962) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1811-1998) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1835-2012) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Hindi |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | A Beautiful Hope (EngSub) |
Film / Video | Coconuts |
Film / Video | Creation to Christ |
Film / Video | Father's Love Letter |
Film / Video | Following Jesus (India, JF Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Hindi |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Rivka (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
General | Bible Visuals |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.02 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.76 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
98.38 %
|
Islam |
0.53 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.02 %
|
Unknown |
0.30 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source | Ben Piven Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Video Source | The Waiting World |
Profile Source | Bethany World Prayer Center |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |