Lakshadweep in India

The Lakshadweep have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 9

Subgroup Name Population
Melacheri 22,000
Malmi 16,000
Aminidivi 7,400
Koya 6,200
Thakrufan 3,200
Thakru 2,100
Raveri 1,800
Manifan 1,200
Urukkaran 1,200

Introduction / History

Lakshadweep Islands of India consist of almost 40 islands; the capital is Kavaratti. Ten of the Lakshadweep islands are inhabited.

Lakshadweep Islands have had several different rulers in history including the Portuguese and the British. Lakshadweep people are cultural inhabitants of Kerala, and speak Malayalam, the same language.


Where Are they Located?

The Lakshadweep Islands are in the Arabian Sea.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Lakshadweep people like spicy vegetarian food with coconuts. The non- vegetarians eat fish in particular and also meat.
The main work of the inhabitants is fishing, coconut cultivation. Tuna fish is the main export product. Women are given a yearly maintenance payment when married, by their husbands. The wife can divorce her husband if she does not receive these payments and she may remarry. Widows may also remarry.

Aminidivi people, who live on Amini Island, are friendly and well liked for their craft work. They design beautiful flowers and plants on coral stones and also make walking sticks from coconuts and tortoise shells to be sold to tourists.

Koyas are land owners, cultivators and sailors. They live on the Kavaratti, Kalpeni and Andrott islands. Regarding important economic and social matters, someone from the Koya group gives the final verdict. Koyas are considered superior and make the major decisions for the Lakshadweep people.

Malmis islanders are primarily sailors. They transport essential products such as rice from one island to another.

Melacheris people live on Amini Island. They collect nuts from coconut trees. They are the lowest of social classes on Lakshadweep.

The people are said to be honest and there is a lower crime level.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most people living on the Lakshadweep Islands are Muslims belonging to the Sunni sect. There are a small number of Wahabi mosques in Kavaratti and Agatti. A small number of Ahamadiya (an Islamic religious movement founded in Punjab, British India) are also in Kalpeni. Animism is also part of this island culture.


What Are Their Needs?

Bible resources exist in the Malayalam language, however, Christian influence is minimal.

Their family, community, and inter-tribal involvement may be an opportunity for those who know God's truth of the gospel to earn eventual acceptance and privilege to speak.

Tourism may be a door of opportunity to meet and develop friendly relationships and offer educational and life-skills help.


Prayer Points

Pray that Almighty God would strengthen, encourage, and protect those who would be church planters and disciplers among these needy island people who do not yet know their Savior.
Pray that tourists who are believers will be kind and considerate to islanders as seed planters of God's love.
Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the island people.


Scripture Prayers for the Lakshadweep in India.


Profile Source:   Karen Hightower  

People Name General Lakshadweep
People Name in Country Lakshadweep
Alternate Names Urumikkaran; लक्षद्वीप
Population this Country 73,000
Population all Countries 73,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17356
ROP3 Code 112742
ROP25 Code 304556
ROP25 Name Lakshadweep
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Tribal - other
People Group Lakshadweep
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 9
  Melacheri 22,000
  Malmi 16,000
  Aminidivi 7,400
  Koya 6,200
  Thakrufan 3,200
  Thakru 2,100
  Raveri 1,800
  Manifan 1,200
  Urukkaran 1,200
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 2
Largest States
Lakshadweep
73,000
Andaman and Nicobar
400
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 2
  Lakshadweep 73,000
  Andaman and Nicobar 400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.07 %
Islam
99.87 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.03 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Malayalam (52,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Maldivian
9,400
Primary Language Malayalam (52,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Maldivian 9,400
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
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 Malayalam Jesus Film Project
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 Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
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
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
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
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
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Karen Hightower 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024