Bhumij in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Desau 7,100

Introduction / History

The Bhumij are one of nine Munda subgroups in India. Bhumij means "children of the soil." Tribal culture among the Bhumij and the other Munda people groups is quickly changing under the impact of external influences such as industrialization, new communication links, tribal welfare schemes, and community development projects. They reside primarily in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand. Their native language is Bhumij, a dialect of Mundari.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Bhumij depend on farming for survival. Many also engage in fishing and hunting. Rice is their staple food throughout the year. Sex before marriage is not taboo among the Bhumij and they also practice polygamy, the marriage of one many with multiple women.


What Are Their Beliefs?

 The Bhumij follow a mixture of Hinduism and ethnic religious beliefs. Their supreme god is the sun god, but they also worship many of the Hindu deities and tribal gods. They have a firm belief in an almighty creator and also "mother earth."


What Are Their Needs?

 Only a very few Bhumij have accepted Christ. Most have yet to hear and receive the gospel of salvation. Because they are faithful to their family and tribe/village, a church planting movement is very possible if Bhumij elders accept Christ's ambassadors. Once a few key Bhumij submit to the Lord, many others will follow.


Prayer Points

Pray for Bhumij elders to open the door for Christ's servants to take the gospel to them.
Ask the Lord to raise up a triumphant church plating movement among each Bhumij tribe for the glory of his name.
Pray for spiritual discernment and hunger among the Bhumij people, and that they will find their answers in Jesus.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhumij in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-10-26
People Name General Bhumij
People Name in Country Bhumij
Alternate Names Bhumij Desua; Bhumija; Bhumjia; Chai Bin; Desua Bhumij; Kisan-Bhumij; भूमीज़
Population this Country 1,339,000
Population all Countries 1,374,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 27
People ID 16447
ROP3 Code 111603
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 16
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
444,000
Odisha
334,000
Assam
269,000
Jharkhand
246,000
Tripura
15,000
Bihar
3,700
Arunachal Pradesh
2,200
Andaman and Nicobar
1,800
Manipur
600
Delhi
500
Maharashtra
100
Meghalaya
100
Chhattisgarh
60
Madhya Pradesh
40
Andhra Pradesh
10
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 16
  West Bengal 444,000
  Odisha 334,000
  Assam 269,000
  Jharkhand 246,000
  Tripura 15,000
  Bihar 3,700
  Arunachal Pradesh 2,200
  Andaman and Nicobar 1,800
  Manipur 600
  Delhi 500
  Maharashtra 100
  Meghalaya 100
  Chhattisgarh 60
  Madhya Pradesh 40
  Andhra Pradesh 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
91.29 %
Islam
0.15 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
7.52 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (534,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 36
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Assamese
177,000
Odia
165,000
Mundari
138,000
Hindi
33,000
Ho
28,000
Santhali
22,000
Munda
15,000
Oriya, Adivasi
2,600
Kuvi
1,600
Bhunjia
500
Maithili
400
Kok Borok
300
Bhojpuri
300
Kurux
200
Telugu
200
Primary Language Bengali (534,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 36
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Assamese 177,000
  Odia 165,000
  Mundari 138,000
  Hindi 33,000
  Ho 28,000
  Santhali 22,000
  Munda 15,000
  Oriya, Adivasi 2,600
  Kuvi 1,600
  Bhunjia 500
  Maithili 400
  Kok Borok 300
  Bhojpuri 300
  Kurux 200
  Telugu 200
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
Bible-NT Audio 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 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 Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali 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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
Photo Source Anonymous 
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.