Vaddar (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.

Subgroups: 9

Subgroup Name Population
Kal Oddar 31,000
Mannu Oddar 29,000
Dilliwal 4,100
Marwadi 4,100
Multani 4,100
Sri Lankan Refugees 400
Suramari Unknown
Mannu Bhovi Unknown
Putiya Islam Unknown

Introduction / History

The Vaddar, Hindu or Bhovi people trace their origin to Odra Desa or Orissa, from where they are believed to have migrated to various southern states. The word 'Bhovi' is a corrupt form of 'Bhavi' which means 'well' in Kannada, it also means 'earth-digger'. They have been involved in the digging of wells. They have various other names too such as Bhovi, Wadda, Tudugvaddar, Voddar, Vaddar, Girinivaddar, Od and Odde.

The Vaddar have decreased in population considerably. They are immigrants from Southern India mainly from Andhra Pradesh and are earth-workers, and are constantly moving about in search of work.

There are three main groups in the Bhovis, namely Kallu Bhovi who are stone cutters, Mannu Bhovi who are earth-workers and Uppar Bhovi who work as menial laborers in the municipality. They are endogamous in nature and have a number of clans such as Battala, Bandi, Pitala, Yanumala, Uppala, and Mallela. The Hindus generally treat them as having low status. They speak Telugu and Kannada.

The Bhovi women have a role in the economic, social and religious spheres of their community and contribute to the family income. While earth digging, stone cutting and daily wage labors are their traditional and primary occupations, agriculture is the secondary occupation for those settled in villages.

Their patron deity is Muneshwar and many of them are devotees of Anjaneya. They also worship other goddesses.

Alternate names: Bovi, Wadda, Tudugvaddar, Voddar, Vaddar, Girinivaddar, Od and Odde.


Prayer Points

For the salvation of the people of the Bhovi people.
For the government and NGOs that they may help in setting up education and developmental programs for the poor.
For churches and missions to be involved in holistically.


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


Profile Source:   India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2008-10-09
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-08-21
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-02-21
People Name General Vaddar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Vaddar (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation wah-DAR
Alternate Names Beldar Rajput; Bhavi; Bhovi; Bhoya; Bovi; Boyar; Chettiar; Ganika; Girinivaddar; Kalkar; Kallu; Mannu; Nungar; Odayar; Odda Nayakkan; Oddar Naidu; Odde; Odder; Odhar; Tudug Vaddar; Tudugvaddar; Ud; Uppar; Vadar; Vadda; Vaddi; Vadi; Voddar; Wadar; Wadda; Waddar; Wadde; Warar; Woddar; Wodde; वादडर (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 4,197,000
Population all Countries 4,230,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 84
People ID 18288
ROP3 Code 113833
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Hindu - other
People Group Vaddar (Hindu traditions)
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 9
  Kal Oddar 31,000
  Mannu Oddar 29,000
  Dilliwal 4,100
  Marwadi 4,100
  Multani 4,100
  Sri Lankan Refugees 400
  Suramari 0
  Mannu Bhovi 0
  Putiya Islam 0
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 27
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Karnataka
1,280,000
Andhra Pradesh
834,000
Telangana
588,000
Tamil Nadu
525,000
Maharashtra
440,000
Haryana
191,000
Gujarat
96,000
Delhi
55,000
Odisha
44,000
Punjab
39,000
Kerala
9,000
Madhya Pradesh
7,900
Rajasthan
7,200
Goa
4,700
Chhattisgarh
3,100
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 27  (only 20 largest shown)
  Karnataka 1,280,000
  Andhra Pradesh 834,000
  Telangana 588,000
  Tamil Nadu 525,000
  Maharashtra 440,000
  Haryana 191,000
  Gujarat 96,000
  Delhi 55,000
  Odisha 44,000
  Punjab 39,000
  Kerala 9,000
  Madhya Pradesh 7,900
  Rajasthan 7,200
  Goa 4,700
  Chhattisgarh 3,100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.06 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.06 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.88 %
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 Telugu (2,336,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 23
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Kannada
410,000
Waddar
327,000
Hindi
147,000
Tamil
131,000
Gujarati
77,000
Marathi
66,000
Punjabi, Eastern
49,000
Haryanvi
31,000
Oadki
15,000
Konkani, Goan
10,000
Sindhi
8,400
Bagri
7,300
Odia
3,400
Ahirani
1,400
Malayalam
1,300
Primary Language Telugu (2,336,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 23
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Kannada 410,000
  Waddar 327,000
  Hindi 147,000
  Tamil 131,000
  Gujarati 77,000
  Marathi 66,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 49,000
  Haryanvi 31,000
  Oadki 15,000
  Konkani, Goan 10,000
  Sindhi 8,400
  Bagri 7,300
  Odia 3,400
  Ahirani 1,400
  Malayalam 1,300
People Groups Speaking Telugu

Primary Language:  Telugu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2022)
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Bible-NT Text Online
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General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.