Subgroups: 2
Subgroup Name | Population ▼ | |
---|---|---|
Dhoria | 400 | |
Wargha | 400 |
The Dhodia are located in the extreme southeastern districts of Gujarat, a state in northwestern India. Their villages lie in the hilly regions south of the Tapi River. The Dhodia are the highest ranking tribe and the third largest tribal group in Gujarat. They speak Dhodia, a Bhil language.
Long ago, prosperity within Gujarat State attracted people from all the surrounding states. Gujarat became a target of the Maratha tribes, who made annual raids to the region for several years. Eventually, the Muslims fortified the area east of Surat in order to reap its economic benefits. War continued between the Monghals, the Maratha, and the Portuguese over the Gujarat territory.
By 1817, the British had risen to power. In the years that followed, they attempted to mend what the Maratha had left by dispersing farmland among the settlers. In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi demanded the British to withdraw from India. The Dhodia, a non-aggressive people, retreated deeper into the hills during the conflict.
The Dhodia consider themselves to be of a higher class than the neighboring Bhil groups. They will not marry other Bhil or even eat with them. Some exceptions are allowed, however, with the Chodhari Bhil. They have more than one wife when they can afford it. The wives are bought while they are still young girls. In times past, it was customary to take the bride to the groom's house for the wedding. Today, however, the young couple generally travel to the bride's house to be married. A widow usually remains a part of her husband's family by marrying her deceased husband's brother.
The Dhodia participate in festivals alongside the Hindus who live nearby. They are not really community-minded, but only come together for such things as annual communal fishing and religious feasts. Village leaders only perform certain social duties.
The Dhodia are related to the many Bhil tribes of India. The name "Bhil" comes from the word billee, which literally means "bow." The bow is the characteristic weapon of most Bhil tribes. Ironically, the Dhodia, unlike their Bhil relatives, do not use bows and arrows.
Most Dhodia have given up the nomadic lifestyles of their ancestors and have settled into farming. Forest labor, trade labor (in the cities), hunting, and fishing are secondary to agriculture. Some live in the Surat district, an area well known for its rich soils and fine cotton crop. Others live in areas where, because of the heavy rainfall, they are able to cultivate rice. Still others live in the less fertile, highland areas.
The Dhodia go to the markets to trade their crops for clothing. The women wear blouses under dark green or red cotton saris (long pieces of cloth that are wrapped around the waist and over one shoulder). They also wear necklaces made of lead beads and rupee coins, and silver anklets. Most of the men wear either a "Gandhi" cap or a turban wrapped out of a piece of cloth. Shorts have also become popular among the men.
Dhodia houses are usually scattered near the streams so that they might easily fish and draw water for themselves and their cattle. The homes are typically built by hired labor. They are small bamboo huts made with tiled roofs. The poorer Dhodia live in mud huts that they build themselves. The doors always face north in order to prevent interaction with evil spirits.
The great majority of the Dhodia Bhil practice ethnic religions. They have deep-rooted beliefs in demons and witches. They worship groups of deities made of shapeless pieces of stone or wood.
The Dhodia have no temples or places to hold their religious ceremonies. They have only a few stones that have been painted and placed under trees. They believe that the supernatural beings dwell there.
Many Dhodia are addicted to alcohol and will sell all they possess for a drink. They need to experience the liberating power of Jesus Christ.
* Scripture Prayers for the Dhodia in India.
* Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will break up the soil through worship and intercession.
* Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth faithful Christian laborers to live among the Dhodia and teach them of God's love.
* Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies focusing on the Dhodia.
* Ask God to give the Dhodia believers boldness to share the Gospel with their own people.
Profile Source: Bethany World Prayer Center |
Global Prayer Digest: 2018-09-27 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-05-18 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-12-09 |
People Name General | Dhodia |
People Name in Country | Dhodia |
Pronunciation | DOH-dee-ah |
Population this Country | 679,000 |
Population all Countries | 686,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 14 |
Alternate Names | Dhobi; Dhodi; Dhori; Dhoria; Doria; धोड़िया |
People ID | 16710 |
ROP3 Code | 111945 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Tribal - other |
People Group | Dhodia |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Tribal - other |
People Group | Dhodia |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 2 |
Dhoria 400 | |
Wargha 400 |
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 | 7 | |||||||||
Largest States |
|
|||||||||
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 | 7 |
Gujarat 634,000 | |
Dadra and Nagar Have 24,000 | |
Maharashtra 18,000 | |
Daman and Diu 2,400 | |
Goa 300 | |
Telangana 70 | |
Rajasthan 30 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Gujarati (467,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Gujarati (467,000 speakers) |
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 24 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Dhodia 200,000 | |
Marathi 5,100 | |
Bhili 3,700 | |
Konkani 2,500 | |
Hindi 1,300 | |
Kannada 200 | |
Telugu 200 | |
Dangi 200 | |
Kacchi 40 | |
Urdu 40 | |
Odia 30 | |
Tamil 30 | |
Malayalam 30 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 20 | |
Bengali 10 | |
People Groups | Speaking Gujarati |
Primary Language: Gujarati
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1809-1965) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1820-1985) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1823-2016) |
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 / Bible |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Creation to Christ |
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 Gujarati |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | Gospel website in this language |
General | Got Questions Ministry |
Mobile App | Download Bible from Google Play Store |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: ગુજરાતી - Gujarati |
Text / Printed Matter | Father's Love Letter |
Text / Printed Matter | OneHope resources for children and youth |
Text / Printed Matter | Online Bible text (Scripture Earth) |
Text / Printed Matter | Online New Testament (Bibles India) |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.03 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.08 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.59 %
|
Islam |
0.18 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.05 %
|
Unknown |
0.07 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source | Bethany World Prayer Center |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Bethany World Prayer Center |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |