The Koli people are also called Dongar or Raj Koli. Generally Koli means a fisherman but the Koli people's primary occupation is agriculture. The Mahadev Koli derive their name from their god Mahadev and live in the Mahadev hills of Maharashtra.
They are found mostly in the Pune, Ahmednagar and Nasik districts of Maharashtra. They speak Marathi and use the Devanagari script. There are twenty-four exogamous clans among the Mahadev Koli and they use their clan's names as their surnames.
Their staple food consists of rice, nagli, varai and wheat. Other than agriculture they are also involved in cattle production, dairy and poultry farming and wage labour as subsidiary occupations.
They resemble the Kunbi and the Maratha communities in matters of dress and appearance. They live in nuclear families. Bride price plays an important part in marriage. The marriage ceremony lasts for three to four days. They allow for divorce and remarriage. They bury their dead, but in some cases they cremate.
Most of the Mahadev Koli follow a number of Hindu traditions. Members of each clan have their own deity.
The Mahadev Koli people need the opportunity to allow Jesus Christ to enrich their lives physically, economically and spiritually. Some Mahadev Koli villages are without electricity. Solar panels would greatly improve their lives. They often lack access to clean water and modern medicine. The Mahadev Koli must hear and understand the message about Jesus Christ to have their sins forgiven and to obtain eternal life.
Pray for a movement to Christ among the Mahadev Koli community.
Pray for more literacy and development programs and better schools.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive them to Jesus Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Koli Mahadev in India.
India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2020/05/28
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-05-28 |
People Name General | Koli Mahadev |
People Name in Country | Koli Mahadev |
Natural Name | Mahadev Koli |
Pronunciation | mah-HAH-dev KOH-lee |
Alternate Names | Dongar; Dongar Koli; Maahadev; Mahadeo; Mahadew; Maideo; Raj Koli; कोली महादेव |
Population this Country | 2,001,000 |
Population all Countries | 2,030,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 40 |
People ID | 17210 |
ROP3 Code | 112576 |
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 | 22 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 22 (only 20 largest shown) |
Maharashtra 1,761,000 | |
Gujarat 111,000 | |
Karnataka 35,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 28,000 | |
Rajasthan 7,900 | |
Odisha 7,600 | |
Telangana 7,000 | |
Goa 4,700 | |
Tamil Nadu 2,400 | |
Uttar Pradesh 1,100 | |
Andhra Pradesh 1,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 900 | |
Delhi 700 | |
Kerala 500 | |
Dadra and Nagar Have 300 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.19 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.07 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.37 %
|
Islam |
0.20 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.03 %
|
Unknown |
0.15 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Marathi (1,412,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | mar Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 23 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Marathi (1,412,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mar Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 23 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Gujarati 85,000 | |
Kannada 40,000 | |
Konkani, Goan 21,000 | |
Hindi 20,000 | |
Konkani 19,000 | |
Telugu 14,000 | |
Ahirani 8,000 | |
Odia 5,700 | |
Bhili 5,700 | |
Khandesi 3,000 | |
Sindhi 1,000 | |
Nimadi 600 | |
Urdu 300 | |
Gondi, Northern 300 | |
Malvi 100 | |
People Groups | Speaking Marathi |
Primary Language: Marathi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1807-1957) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1811-1982) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1821-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |