Farming has been the primary vocation of this caste living in western India. The Velama are Hindu who belong to the Vaishnava sect, and their principle deity is Lord Narsimha. They invite Brahmins to assist in their rituals. They traditionally accept water and cooked food from higher Hindu castes but not from the Scheduled Castes. The service castes such as the Ambattan (barber) and Vannan (washermen) serve them. They have rich oral traditions in the form of folk-songs which are sung by both men and women during fairs and festivities and the performing of rituals.

Hinduism produces a very different understanding of spiritual issues than does the Christian Bible. Changing a person's understanding and belief system radically is usually a slow and painful process.

Please pray the few followers of Jesus today within this community will grow in numbers and in spiritual maturity. They have the potential of taking the Gospel message to all of their own caste as they become stronger.

Please pray for the Velama who have reported themselves as Christians to the Indian census. Pray they will lead holy lives and will learn to live in the power of God's Spirit, demonstrating love, joy, peace, and all the fruit of the Spirit.

Please pray the Velama caste will be set free from the bondage of the caste system, and be drawn to the freedom found in knowing Jesus Christ. See John 8:36, "if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed."