In Karnataka, their name means "barren," and the name they use in Tamil Nadu means "cattle." The Godda people live mainly in Karnataka, but many of them also live in two of India's other southern states, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Most are involved with agriculture, and they are landless. Some work as stone-cutters, rickshaw drivers, lumberjacks, construction workers, wood carvers, and beedi (cigarette) rollers.
Their families are usually nuclear. Girls get married at about 16 and boys get married at about 18. Commonly a young man will marry his cousin. If his wife dies, he often marries her younger sister. Women contribute to the family income. The main marriage rituals involve worshipping family deities.
For a rural people group in India the Godda people have a high literacy rate. They have benefitted from modern medicine, water projects, electricity, roads, postal service, and government programs.
These Hindus worship Jasma Devi as their patron deity. They worship many spirit beings, but Jesus Christ is not part of their lives.
The Godda people need a spiritual discernment that will allow the King of kings to become central in their communities.
Pray for the Godda people to have adequate education and medical facilities.
Pray for loving workers to go to the Godda people.
Pray for Godda disciples to make other disciples.
Scripture Prayers for the Godda in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Godda |
People Name in Country | Godda |
Alternate Names | Avulavaru; Dravida Avula; Goddar; Vaddi; गोड्डा |
Population this Country | 3,000 |
Population all Countries | 3,000 |
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 | 16846 |
ROP3 Code | 112127 |
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 | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
|
||||||
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 | 5 |
Karnataka 1,800 | |
Tamil Nadu 700 | |
Kerala 300 | |
Andhra Pradesh 100 | |
Puducherry 20 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
1.92 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
98.08 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Kannada (1,200 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 5 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Kannada (1,200 speakers) |
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 5 |
Secondary Languages | |
Telugu 600 | |
Tulu 600 | |
Tamil 200 | |
Malayalam 90 | |
People Groups | Speaking Kannada |
Primary Language: Kannada
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1812-1988) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1823-2023) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1827-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
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. |