Panka in India

The Panka 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.

Introduction / History

The Panka community of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha have either scheduled caste or Sudra status. Both indicate low status in Hindu society. They have many gotras (clans) and other smaller groupings. Most use Panka as their surname, so everyone knows their community.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Panka are traditionally weavers, though they also grow crops, raise livestock and find food in the forests. They sell their woven goods in the markets. The less fortunate are day laborers.

Panka families are usually nuclear rather than extended. Younger members respect and even fear their family elders.

They prefer to marry their cousins, usually a father’s sister’s daughter or a mother’s brother’s daughter. They marry as adults, and the marriages are monogamous. They rarely divorce, but occasionally one partner will desert the other and marry someone else. They only do this if there are no children involved.

Panka women have many jobs including fishing, which is usually reserved for men. They also take care of the house, raise the children, care for livestock and cultivate their crops. Women have lower status than men and do not have the chance to make decisions regarding family property.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though the Panka are Hindu, they worship many household and regional gods. Within each gotra (clan) there are family gods that they worship hoping for protection and prosperity.


What Are Their Needs?

The Panka people need to put their faith and hope in the King of kings and Lord of lords.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Panka people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.

Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly.

Pray for the spiritual lives of Panka Christians to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Panka in India.


References

People of India, Vol 16. K.S. Singh. 2013


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Panka
People Name in Country Panka
Alternate Names Das; Das Panka; Kabir; Kabir Das Panka; Kotaar; Manikpuri; Panika; Pankha; Pankhiya; Parki; पंका
Population this Country 47,000
Population all Countries 47,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17835
ROP3 Code 113309
ROP25 Code 306520
ROP25 Name Panka
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 4
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
39,000
Odisha
7,400
Maharashtra
70
Uttarakhand
40
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 4
  Uttar Pradesh 39,000
  Odisha 7,400
  Maharashtra 70
  Uttarakhand 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.09 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.91 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (30,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Odia
6,000
Bhojpuri
4,600
Kanauji
300
Desiya
300
Bundeli
200
Awadhi
200
Garhwali
20
Primary Language Hindi (30,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Odia 6,000
  Bhojpuri 4,600
  Kanauji 300
  Desiya 300
  Bundeli 200
  Awadhi 200
  Garhwali 20
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)
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Amazon
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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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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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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