The Kori are a Scheduled Caste of India living in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa. Their name comes from the Hindi word Kora meaning coarse cloth and it refers to their local traditional work of weaving that type of cloth.
In Uttar Pradesh the Kori speak Hindi. In Maharashtra they speak Marathi as well as a Hindi dialect. In Madhya Pradesh they speak Hindi, Malwi and Nimadi. They read and write in Devanagari. They speak Oriya in Orissa and read and write in Oriya. The Kori have a low social standing and are not well off financially. They are often mocked because they are weavers. The Kori of today are weavers except in Maharashtra where they are laborers, fruit sellers or in agriculture. Some Kori families use power looms. Some with land are farmers but many are landless and work as laborers.
As Hindus, they do not eat beef but they do eat chicken, mutton, pork and eggs. In Maharashtra they do not eat pork. They eat wheat, rice, dairy produce, fruits in season and vegetables. They are allowed alcohol. They have low literacy levels, so the gospel would need to be given in oral form. They use modern and traditional medicines and like family planning except in Orissa. Most of the Kori do not use banks but use moneylenders and shopkeepers.
The Kori are endogamous, which means they do not normally marry outside their group. They believe in monogamy and adult marriages that are arranged by the elders of both families. Cross cousin marriages are allowed except in Madhya Pradesh. A dowry is given except in Maharashtra. Divorce is allowed if approved socially. Divorcees and the bereaved can remarry. Sons inherit the property of the father and the oldest son becomes in charge of the home. Women do the housework and help with weaving and agriculture. The Kori have caste councils who judge things like adultery and divorce. Fines are the usual punishment with excommunication being the last resort.
The Kori are Hindus and worship all the Hindu gods and goddesses and they have community gods too. They take part in the major Hindu festivals. Brahmin priests do birth, marriage and death rituals. They mostly cremate the dead but bury them in cases such as leprosy or suicides. Very young children are buried. Ashes are immersed in a river, the Ganges being favored. They have birth and death pollution set periods.
It is said that if the Kori make good use of government assistance they would not be so poor. If their children were educated they would have a better future.
Pray that the Kori realise Jesus Christ will accept them as they are as weavers and that they will give their lives to Him.
Scripture Prayers for the Kori in India.
www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/kori
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Kori |
People Name in Country | Kori |
Alternate Names | Dhangar; Kisan; Koli; Koly; Kora; Kora Dobha; Kuda; Kuli; Kura; Kura Kura; Kuraakula; Kurakula; Kuralia; Kuri; Kuria; Kurrakula; Malhar; कोरी |
Population this Country | 3,062,000 |
Population all Countries | 3,089,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 4 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 61 |
People ID | 17263 |
ROP3 Code | 112632 |
ROP25 Code | 304213 |
ROP25 Name | Kori |
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 | 19 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 19 |
Uttar Pradesh 2,721,000 | |
West Bengal 189,000 | |
Odisha 65,000 | |
Jharkhand 39,000 | |
Bihar 20,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 11,000 | |
Karnataka 9,000 | |
Rajasthan 4,500 | |
Andhra Pradesh 1,400 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 800 | |
Tamil Nadu 800 | |
Nagaland 500 | |
Maharashtra 300 | |
Telangana 200 | |
Delhi 200 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.40 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.12 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.13 %
|
Islam |
0.02 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.06 %
|
Unknown |
0.27 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Hindi (1,794,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 59 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (1,794,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 59 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Awadhi 196,000 | |
Bhojpuri 152,000 | |
Bengali 122,000 | |
Kanauji 97,000 | |
Bundeli 64,000 | |
Odia 50,000 | |
Koda 49,000 | |
Santhali 15,000 | |
Maithili 9,000 | |
Braj Bhasha 6,300 | |
Magahi 4,600 | |
Chhattisgarhi 3,800 | |
Kannada 3,500 | |
Mundari 3,000 | |
Gujarati 2,200 | |
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 |
Possible Print Bibles | |
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Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Copyrighted © 2023 Isudas All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |