Matia in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

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. They live in Bangladesh and Bhutan (a tiny group in Bhutan), as well as in India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lineages regulate marriage alliances. Preferred marriage partners are first cousins. Literacy rates are low.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Matia worship the village deity Thakurani and celebrate the festivals Dhunauakhia and Dual Dei.


What Are Their Needs?

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.


Prayer Points

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
Alternate Names Mati Bhumia; Mati Bhumiya; Mattia; Mattiya; Matya; मतिया
Population this Country 250,000
Population all Countries 277,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
People ID 17466
ROP3 Code 112874
ROP25 Code 305278
ROP25 Name Matya / Matia
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 18
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
207,000
Odisha
36,000
Jharkhand
2,300
Tripura
1,400
Andaman and Nicobar
800
Bihar
500
Chhattisgarh
400
Delhi
400
Meghalaya
200
Uttar Pradesh
100
Nagaland
100
Maharashtra
100
Madhya Pradesh
90
Andhra Pradesh
70
Uttarakhand
60
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 18
  West Bengal 207,000
  Odisha 36,000
  Jharkhand 2,300
  Tripura 1,400
  Andaman and Nicobar 800
  Bihar 500
  Chhattisgarh 400
  Delhi 400
  Meghalaya 200
  Uttar Pradesh 100
  Nagaland 100
  Maharashtra 100
  Madhya Pradesh 90
  Andhra Pradesh 70
  Uttarakhand 60
Website South Asia Peoples
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.
Primary Language Bengali (173,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 21
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Odia
19,000
Hindi
8,900
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
Primary Language Bengali (173,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 21
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Odia 19,000
  Hindi 8,900
  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)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali 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 Rivka video 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
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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