Paravan (Hindu traditions) 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 Paravan are a sea people who live along the coast of South India and Sir Lanka. Since ancient times, they have been involved in sea trade, boat building and fishing. Devout, educated Hindus considered these jobs to be degrading so they placed the Paravan outside the Hindu caste system. The Paravan have been primarily an oral culture since reading and writing were unnecessary for their occupations.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For hundreds of years the Paravan of South India have made their living from the sea. They have dived for pearls, collected shells, fished, and made salt for their living. They have moved goods in their boats and made boats and fishing nets for sale. When fishing was poor, the Paravan were in danger of starvation. The public educational system of India gives the Paravan children the opportunity to gain literacy and improve their economic situation. Still many Paravan children leave school after a few years in order to help their parents provide for the family. If the Paravan do graduate from secondary school, they will be able to participate in a growing Indian economy. These man industries of India include tourism, the export of tea, textiles, computer science, and telecommunication. Paravan parents strongly encourage their children to marry within their group. Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Paravan practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. 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 Paravan visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hope of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do with their heavenly Father. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Paravan 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.


What Are Their Needs?

The Paravan children need to be in school and to gain literacy skills to help their families. Adult Paravan would benefit from learning new job skills. The Paravan must understand that Jesus is more than another Hindu god or guru. He is the Son of the one, true God of the Bible. Only through Christ can their sins be forgiven.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord of the harvest sends workers to the Paravan in India to tell them the good news. Pray that Paravan parents can provide for the needs of their children. Ask the Lord to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among the Paravan in this decade. Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Paravan community leaders. Pray for many showings of the Tamil JESUS Film in Paravan areas.


Scripture Prayers for the Paravan (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paravar


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Paravan (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Paravan (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Barathar; Chuna Parava; Chunna Paravan; Cunnambu; Hindu Parava; Kurup; Latin Catholic; Latin Catholics; Minavar; Minparavan; Nurunkurup; Paradavan; Parava; Paravar; Varakurup; परवान
Population this Country 104,000
Population all Countries 106,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 17846
ROP3 Code 113320
ROP25 Code 306558
ROP25 Name Paravan / Paravar
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 8
Largest States
Kerala
70,000
Tamil Nadu
27,000
Karnataka
4,200
Andhra Pradesh
2,400
Puducherry
200
Delhi
200
Telangana
100
Maharashtra
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 8
  Kerala 70,000
  Tamil Nadu 27,000
  Karnataka 4,200
  Andhra Pradesh 2,400
  Puducherry 200
  Delhi 200
  Telangana 100
  Maharashtra 60
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.20 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.11 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.69 %
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 Malayalam (60,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Tamil
25,000
Kannada
1,300
Tulu
500
English
200
Primary Language Malayalam (60,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 25,000
  Kannada 1,300
  Tulu 500
  English 200
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Nithi Anand - Flickr  Creative Commons 
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.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024