Gond unspecified in India


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

Subgroups: 13 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Paharia 71,000
Ojha 50,000
Amat 38,000
Kolbhuta 34,000
Sargujhia 18,000
Dhulia 17,000
Thoti 16,000
Thatia 11,000
Dheria 5,300
Sabaria 1,600

Introduction / History

A crude gate on the mud road, the wooden poles on both the sides and the beam across it stands high enough for anyone to enter. There are remains of bundles and ropes hung on it. Among them you may find a new bundle of shrinking animal skin. If you see these before a village, you can be sure: you are entering a Gondi village.
Gonds celebrate their legacy every year during the Dasara. On that occasion, all the living heirs of the crown in each generation are honored by carrying them on a pallak (royal cart carried on shoulders).


What Are Their Lives Like?

Gonds are agriculturists and choose to live on the riverbeds close to forests. Most of them possess agricultural land. Those who have a god portion of the land cultivate rice, javar (cereals) and green dal (pulses). Tending goats and cattle are also common. Poorer Gonds work in the fields of the richer Gonds. There is not much work available for them except in farming seasons. They earn a meager daily wage. They love hunting and wild meats are their favorites.
Southern Gonds live in clusters. Each village will have 25 to 30 huts and is surrounded by their fields. Villages will be two to four kilometers away from one another. From one village to another or to the nearby town, they travel by bullock-carts. All farmers offer sacrifices at the end of each harvest. The size of the yield determines the size of the animal offered. A good harvest may demand a goat and poorer, a chicken. Pigs are also sacrificed for a moderate harvest. For them, monsoon not only brings showers but also sicknesses.
Girls are married between the age of 13 and 15. Marriages are during the summer. A girl and a boy in love can run away together; this is an accepted custom. Once they come back, the local panchayat meet to discuss the terms and conditions of the marriage. Marriages are also arranged by the parents. Depending up on the financial conditions of the families the bride groom's parents must give the bride's parents some amount of money.
Among the southern Gond tribes, there are seven clans. Each clan has gods numbering from one to seven. They maintain their identity and distinguish one clan form another based on the number of gods each has. People of the same clan cannot get married. When one meet someone, he asks, how many gods the other person has in his clan. This is how they know whether they belong to the same clan or not. Clans with the same number of gods will not get married together. This is observed strictly. If the financial condition permits, one is allowed to have more than one wife.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They believe that evil spirits are the causes for sicknesses. They believe sacrifices keep away these evil spirits. Perumal, the high-priest, responsible for three or four villages together, offers these sacrifices for every village. The sacrifice will be followed by a social dinner. The sacrificial goat must give permission for the sacrifice by nodding its head! The people will wait till the animal does it.
The sacrifice is witnessed by the whole of the village. But the dinner made by cooking the animal will be enjoyed only by the men. All the men gather at the riverside to prepare the dinner. White toddy from palm or the country liquor called, black toddy may supplement the diner. Drinking, in general, is not just the right of men. The sacrifice animal's skin is stuffed with hay and hung on the village gate. This is to frighten the evil spirits and give courage to the villagers. The Southern Gonds prefer witch doctors even when a Public Health Centre is accessible. They will have to carry a chicken along. Gonds think that enemies' witchcraft brings them ill health. Herbs or water is given by the witch doctor as remedies.


What Are Their Needs?

Gond people need protection from the spirit world. They can only get this through Jesus Christ. They also need better ways to make a living. As it stands, they live at a subsistence level.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to soften the hearts of Gond leaders and family heads, sending broken-hearted ambassadors to help them begin a spiritual journey that will lead to a Gond movement to Christ in India.
Pray for the Lord to reveal the hope of his son to Gond families and clans.
Pray for an unstoppable Disciple Making Movement.


Scripture Prayers for the Gond unspecified in India.


References

Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Gond
People Name in Country Gond unspecified
Alternate Names Arakh; Asur; Chorgujar; Gondar; Gondaru; Gonr; Gulwar; Hadi; Koi; Koitur; Koytor; Maria; Muria; Nagpuria; Naikpod; Raj Gond; Rajgond; Southeastern Kolam; Tamria; गोंद
Population this Country 10,129,000
Population all Countries 10,140,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 203
People ID 16855
ROP3 Code 112137
ROP25 Code 302754
ROP25 Name Gond
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Tribal - Gond
People Group Gond
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 13
  Paharia 71,000
  Ojha 50,000
  Amat 38,000
  Kolbhuta 34,000
  Sargujhia 18,000
  Dhulia 17,000
  Thoti 16,000
  Thatia 11,000
  Dheria 5,300
  Sabaria 1,600
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 25
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Madhya Pradesh
5,087,000
Chhattisgarh
4,653,000
Maharashtra
1,619,000
Odisha
895,000
Assam
669,000
Uttar Pradesh
604,000
Telangana
306,000
Bihar
256,000
Karnataka
158,000
Jharkhand
54,000
West Bengal
14,000
Arunachal Pradesh
7,300
Andhra Pradesh
6,700
Uttarakhand
3,200
Gujarat
3,000
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 25  (only 20 largest shown)
  Madhya Pradesh 5,087,000
  Chhattisgarh 4,653,000
  Maharashtra 1,619,000
  Odisha 895,000
  Assam 669,000
  Uttar Pradesh 604,000
  Telangana 306,000
  Bihar 256,000
  Karnataka 158,000
  Jharkhand 54,000
  West Bengal 14,000
  Arunachal Pradesh 7,300
  Andhra Pradesh 6,700
  Uttarakhand 3,200
  Gujarat 3,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.04 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.90 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
91.27 %
Islam
0.16 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
7.61 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (5,071,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 120
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Gondi, Northern
2,613,000
Chhattisgarhi
2,051,000
Marathi
890,000
Odia
707,000
Bhojpuri
543,000
Assamese
461,000
Bhatri
264,000
Maria
233,000
Halbi
227,000
Telugu
192,000
Gondi, Aheri
166,000
Koya
161,000
Kannada
152,000
Duruwa
122,000
Maria, Dandami
98,000
Primary Language Hindi (5,071,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 120
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Gondi, Northern 2,613,000
  Chhattisgarhi 2,051,000
  Marathi 890,000
  Odia 707,000
  Bhojpuri 543,000
  Assamese 461,000
  Bhatri 264,000
  Maria 233,000
  Halbi 227,000
  Telugu 192,000
  Gondi, Aheri 166,000
  Koya 161,000
  Kannada 152,000
  Duruwa 122,000
  Maria, Dandami 98,000
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
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Amazon
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Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
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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
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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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Yann Forget - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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.



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