Subgroups: 7
Subgroup Name | Population ▼ | |
---|---|---|
Chapalsandhe | 4,000 | |
Khandesh | 1,400 | |
Berarie | 1,300 | |
Dakhne | 1,300 | |
Gurupanthi | 1,300 | |
Kabirpanthi | 1,300 | |
Ramanandi | 1,300 |
History The Matangi are a small group living in southwest India. They are considered outside the standard four caste Hindu social system and face daily discrimination by other Hindus. According to Buddhist legend, a Matangi girl was asked by a follower of the Buddha for water. The girl answered that she could not give him water due to the fact that she was from outside of the Hindu caste system. The Buddhist man said he wanted water and did not care what caste she was from. The girl left her village and became a Buddhist nun. The primary language of the Matangi is Telugu. Many resources are available in Telugu including a complete Bible and the JESUS Film. The gospel will need to be presented to the Matangi in visual and oral forms. The greatest numbers of Matangi of India live in the Indian state of Telangana. Some also live in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
The Matangi do manual labor such as digging holes for construction sites. Some do farm work on land owned by others. Most of Matangi live in extreme poverty. Most cannot read or write. A few have taken advantage of India's public schools and found better jobs. The Matangi are known for having tattoos. They have their own music and drama based on oral tradition. Families arrange marriages within the Matangi group. Cousin marriages are common with the girls marrying as young a 11 or 12. A man can have multiple wives if he can afford them. Property is inherited by the sons. Their dead are cremated. Village elders settle legal issues and promote Matangi interests
The Matangi practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They may get their name from the Hindu goddess, Matangi. She is worshipped as the goddess of music and supernatural power by her devotees. She is one of the many forms of the mother goddess Devi. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Matangi people visit Hindu shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Matangi people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories. The lowest communities are outside of the caste system. Unfortunately, the Matangi belong to this last group.
The Matangi people have huge needs. Most of all they need to hear and understand the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. The Matangi would benefit by teams of teachers and medical workers coming to them. The Matangi need job skills that can help raise their low standard of living.
Pray that village elders come to Jesus Christ and lead the others of the Matangi to salvation also. Pray that God has teams of workers go to the Matangi to help with their physical needs. Pray for an unstoppable disciple making movement begins and flourishes among the Matangi. Pray that the Lord sends Hindu background believers to tell the Matangi about Jesus.
Scripture Prayers for the Matang (Hindu traditions) in India.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Matang (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Matang (Hindu traditions) |
Alternate Names | Madiga; Mang; Mang Garodi; Mang Garudi; Mangela; Matgar; Minimadig; मातंग (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 3,073,000 |
Population all Countries | 3,075,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 6 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 61 |
People ID | 17463 |
ROP3 Code | 112871 |
ROP25 Code | 305263 |
ROP25 Name | Matang |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Matang (Hindu traditions) |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Dalit - other |
People Group | Matang (Hindu traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 7 |
Chapalsandhe 4,000 | |
Khandesh 1,400 | |
Berarie 1,300 | |
Dakhne 1,300 | |
Gurupanthi 1,300 | |
Kabirpanthi 1,300 | |
Ramanandi 1,300 |
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 2,963,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 35,000 | |
Karnataka 31,000 | |
Gujarat 16,000 | |
Telangana 16,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 4,200 | |
Rajasthan 2,500 | |
Tamil Nadu 1,700 | |
Goa 1,400 | |
Delhi 1,000 | |
Kerala 500 | |
Dadra and Nagar Have 400 | |
Uttar Pradesh 300 | |
West Bengal 300 | |
Assam 100 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
7.83 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.15 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
91.98 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.03 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Marathi (2,520,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | mar Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 15 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Marathi (2,520,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mar Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 15 |
Secondary Languages | |
Hindi 38,000 | |
Ahirani 9,100 | |
Konkani 8,300 | |
Khandesi 4,900 | |
Konkani, Goan 3,400 | |
Gujarati 2,000 | |
Kannada 1,900 | |
Chhattisgarhi 1,400 | |
Kacchi 1,300 | |
Malvi 900 | |
Nimadi 600 | |
English 600 | |
Bengali 20 | |
Dangi 0 | |
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) |
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 |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |