Dudekula in India

The Dudekula 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

Dudekula are a small community in South India. They are known by other names such as "Pinjari", "Bhai", "Panjakuttai", and "Panjari". In Telugu, the state language of Andhra Pradesh, "dude" means cotton and "ekuta" means cleaning. Hence, they are locally called the Dudekula, the cotton cleaners and mattress makers. Telugu is their mother tongue and it is used for communication at home and with outsiders. They also use the Telugu script. The personal name giving pattern of the Muslim Dudekulas is similar to their Hindu neighbors.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Dudekula marry within their group but not within their particular clan. Persons belonging to a clan are considered as brothers and sisters and there are no marriage alliances between these. For example, Dudekula with the Ratollu surname cannot marry among themselves. Hence for marriage alliance they go to someone with a different surname like Amburollu. They marry cross cousins:father's sister's daughters and mother's brother's daughters. As a result they are looked down upon by other Muslims. To overcome this, they are now adopting the customs and manners of more Islamized groups. Marriages are settled and observed with Islamic traditions. Both Dudekula men and women have accepted modern education and have occupied jobs in different fields. All these have helped the Dudekula elevate their status in Indian Muslim society.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Dudekulas practice a folk version of Islam. As a rule, they do not have family, clan or village deities like Hindus; they pray only to Allah. Yet they are affiliated with specific Muslim saints. Their weekly Islamic congregations meet on Fridays. The sermon is conducted in Urdu and later it is translated into the local language of Telugu, since the Dudekula seldom understand Urdu. They regularly visit Muslim shrines on pilgrimages. They have a patron saint, and they attend his annual "funeral ceremony." They also go on pilgrimage to take vows or pay their offerings. When they are there, they offer a ritual of reciting the first page of the Quran in the name of their saint and also offer food to the poor. Dudekula were originally Hindu who converted to Islam a few generations ago. Until a few years ago they vacillated between the two religious traditions. Of late they have adopted entirely Islamic rituals, traditions, customs, and manners. Because of their poverty and also the un-Islamic customs they practiced they had a low status. They are now gaining higher status by adopting more orthodox Islamic customs. The urge to claim higher status has motivated the younger generation to learn Urdu and classical Arabic. Their women have begun observing Islamic-based seclusion rules, dress code and have dropped the Hindu custom of wearing "kumkum" on their forehead. Though quite a few of their rituals have Hindu roots, they are now renaming them with Urdu terms but still observing them.


What Are Their Needs?

The Dudekula people need to put all their trust in Jesus Christ so they can experience life to the full. The Dudekula need to understand that Jesus or Isa is much more than a human prophet.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Dudekula people a willingness to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Dudekula people this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Dudekula people and tell them about Isa.


Scripture Prayers for the Dudekula in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Dudekula
People Name in Country Dudekula
Alternate Names Bhai; Daldi; Laddaf; Musalman; Muslim; Noor Basha; Noor-Bash; Nurbash; Panji; Panjikotti; Panjikutti; Panjukotti; Pinjara; डुडेकुला
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 12,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16749
ROP3 Code 111997
ROP25 Code 302205
ROP25 Name Dudekula
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 7
Largest States
Telangana
5,000
Andhra Pradesh
4,900
Tamil Nadu
1,100
Odisha
400
Maharashtra
100
Puducherry
90
Karnataka
70
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 7
  Telangana 5,000
  Andhra Pradesh 4,900
  Tamil Nadu 1,100
  Odisha 400
  Maharashtra 100
  Puducherry 90
  Karnataka 70
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Telugu (9,500 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Kannada
90
Odia
80
Tamil
80
Urdu
80
Primary Language Telugu (9,500 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Kannada 90
  Odia 80
  Tamil 80
  Urdu 80
People Groups Speaking Telugu

Primary Language:  Telugu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Jesus Film: view in Telugu 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 Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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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
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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