The Matia (or Matya) people are a tribal group who have long been farmers. They are subdivided into three sub-groups, which are divided into clans, which are further divided into lineages. The lineages regulate marriage alliances. Preferred marriage partners are first cousins. Literacy rates are quite low. The Matia worship the village deity Thakurani and celebrate the festivals Dhunauakhia and Dual Dei.
Lack of prayer and lack of workers remain as serious deficiencies to the advance of the good news about Jesus throughout South Asia.
Low literacy rates mean the Gospel message needs to come primarily in oral form. Perhaps the Lord will send workers who know how to tell stories from scripture. They live in Bangladesh and Bhutan (a tiny group in Bhutan), as well as in India.
A few of the Matia have reported themselves as Christians to the census of India. Please pray for these Christians, that they will understand the distinction between a cultural or nominal Christian and one who has entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray they will become real disciples of Jesus, living holy lives in the power of the Lord's Spirit. Please pray for improved literacy rates, for better medical care, and for an improved standard of living for this community. Pray especially for the youth to have better access to schools and for parents to make schooling a priority for their children.
Scripture Prayers for the Matia in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Matia |
People Name in Country | Matia |
Population this Country | 239,000 |
Population all Countries | 266,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 5 |
Alternate Names | Mati Bhumia; Mati Bhumiya; Mattia; Mattiya; Matya; मतिया |
People ID | 17466 |
ROP3 Code | 112874 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 18 |
West Bengal 197,000 | |
Odisha 36,000 | |
Jharkhand 2,200 | |
Tripura 1,300 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 800 | |
Bihar 500 | |
Chhattisgarh 400 | |
Delhi 400 | |
Meghalaya 200 | |
Uttar Pradesh 100 | |
Nagaland 100 | |
Maharashtra 100 | |
Madhya Pradesh 80 | |
Andhra Pradesh 70 | |
Mizoram 50 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Bengali (165,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 21 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Bengali (165,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 21 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Odia 19,000 | |
Hindi 9,000 | |
Telugu 8,500 | |
Koda 300 | |
Santhali 300 | |
Bhatri 300 | |
Kurux 200 | |
Kuvi 200 | |
Pengo 100 | |
Koya 100 | |
Munda 90 | |
Ho 90 | |
Maithili 90 | |
Mundari 40 | |
Chhattisgarhi 10 | |
People Groups | Speaking Bengali |
Primary Language: Bengali
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1800-1980) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1801-1984) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1809-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
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Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Film / Video | Following Jesus video |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Bengali |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels |
Film / Video | Magdalena video |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime |
Film / Video | Rivka video |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 3 - Woman at the Well |
Film / Video | The Savior 8 - Jesus is Risen |
General | Biblical answers to your questions |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.05 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.92 %
|
Islam |
0.02 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.01 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |