Dholi (Hindu traditions) in India

The Dholi (Hindu traditions) have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The name of the Dholi people comes from the word "dhol", meaning a type of drum. This is not surprising since the Dholi have been drummers and musicians in India for centuries. They play drums during weddings and other festive occasions. The Dholi claim to have come from the powerful Rajput communities, but this is doubtful since they are currently a "scheduled caste." Scheduled castes receive special consideration for public jobs and university admissions. Like many Hindu communities, the Dholi perceive themselves as being higher on the Hindu social ranking order than others perceive them.

The primary language of the Dholi is Hindi. They also speak many other regional languages.


Where Are they Located?

Most of the 221,000 Dholi people live in rural parts of India's scenic Rajasthan state. Smaller groups also live in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Dholi are now farmers, not professional musicians. Their children usually begin working in the fields by the time they are 15, so education is limited. However, they still send their sons, and sometimes their daughters, to school when they are young.

These Hindus listen to the radio and watch TV in Hindi. 38% of the Dholi are illiterate. Fortunately, many Christian resources are available in Hindi.

The Dholi are not vegetarian but as Hindus they do not eat beef. Their main foods are wheat, maize and vegetables.

The Dholi marry within their group but not in their clan. Marriage to one person is the general rule but polygamy is allowed. Newly married couples live with or near the groom's parents. The right of divorce belongs only to men. Caste councils promote their interests and settle legal disputes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Dholi are almost 100% Hindu, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works they will attain freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Dholi are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


Only a tiny number of Dholi are believers in Christ.


What Are Their Needs?

The Dholi Hindu need to hear the message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They must see that Jesus is not just another avatar of a Hindu god like Rama or Krishna, but He is the unique Son of the one true God of the Bible. The Dholi need to see Christianity lived out before them in practical ways.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to send workers to the Dholi people to tell them of Jesus.
Pray that Christian materials in Hindi and Marwari will become abundantly available to the Dholi.
Pray for the Lord to send them literacy teachers.
Pray for spiritual hunger for the Dholi so that they will desire the Word of God.


Scripture Prayers for the Dholi (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

http://vikaspedia.in/social-welfare/scheduled-tribes-welfare/ministry-of-tribal-welfare
https://indikosh.com/vill/84894/dholi
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16711/IN


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Dholi (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Dholi (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Bajania; Dholi; Dholwala; Dhopi; Dhupi; Dugla; Langah; Mirasi; Nagarchi; Shilpakar; Shilpkar; ढोली (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 282,000
Population all Countries 282,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
People ID 16711
ROP3 Code 111947
ROP25 Code 302076
ROP25 Name Dholi
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 11
Largest States
Rajasthan
159,000
Madhya Pradesh
76,000
Gujarat
24,000
Tripura
11,000
Assam
9,300
Uttarakhand
1,300
Jammu and Kashmir
100
Arunachal Pradesh
100
Meghalaya
70
Mizoram
60
Karnataka
50
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 11
  Rajasthan 159,000
  Madhya Pradesh 76,000
  Gujarat 24,000
  Tripura 11,000
  Assam 9,300
  Uttarakhand 1,300
  Jammu and Kashmir 100
  Arunachal Pradesh 100
  Meghalaya 70
  Mizoram 60
  Karnataka 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.98 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (120,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 18
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marwari
32,000
Mewari
19,000
Gujarati
19,000
Bengali
13,000
Malvi
12,000
Dhundari
6,600
Assamese
4,500
Haroti
4,200
Shekhawati
2,500
Bagri
1,300
Kumaoni
1,000
Wagdi
500
Bagheli
400
Punjabi, Eastern
300
Chhattisgarhi
300
Primary Language Hindi (120,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 18
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marwari 32,000
  Mewari 19,000
  Gujarati 19,000
  Bengali 13,000
  Malvi 12,000
  Dhundari 6,600
  Assamese 4,500
  Haroti 4,200
  Shekhawati 2,500
  Bagri 1,300
  Kumaoni 1,000
  Wagdi 500
  Bagheli 400
  Punjabi, Eastern 300
  Chhattisgarhi 300
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  (1818-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) 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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024