Introduction / History

The Holaya Dasari people were once alms-seekers, so it is clear that they have low status in the Hindu world. Their name means "dry crop field" (hola) and "servant" (dasari). Today most of the Holaya Dasari people are agricultural day laborers.

Where Are they Located?

Most of the Holaya Dasari people are located in India's southern state of Karnataka, and they speak the language of that state, Kannada.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Holaya Dasari people occasionally eat meat instead of grains and legumes, but even when they do, they will not eat beef. Eating beef would be unacceptable to a Hindu people.

Their marriages are arranged and negotiated by the families of the bride and groom. Adult marriage is the norm, and they do not allow someone to have more than one wife. The husband's family pays the bride's family a nominal fee as a bride price at the time of the wedding, which takes place at the groom's family home. The couple stays with or near the husband's family. Today more Holaya Dasari couples are choosing to live apart from their parents than they did in the past. Brahmin priests conduct their wedding ceremonies.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Holaya Dasari are Hindus who worship deities like Venkataramana, Vishnu, Hanumantha, and Ababai. Brahmin priests are their sacred specialists.

What Are Their Needs?

This is a community that has not had opportunity to get the education they need to compete in India's rapidly developing economy. Their girls are deprived of an education for cultural reasons. Since most of them speak one of India's major languages, especially Kannada, they have all kinds of gospel materials available to them.

Prayer Points

* Pray for believers to provide the Holaya Dasari people with opportunities to get the education they need to thrive.
* Ask the Lord to soften Holaya Dasari hearts, and give them a desire for the righteousness and truth that can only come from Jesus Christ.
* Pray for gospel materials to become readily available in all Holaya Dasari communities.