Jetwant Gond in India

The Jetwant Gond have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Gonds celebrate their legacy every year during the Dasara. On that occasion, all the living heirs of the crown in each generation are honored by carrying them on a royal cart carried on people's shoulders. However, it is uncertain where the Gond peoples originated. They are probably the largest Dravidian (original tribe in the Subcontinent.)

In the 1500s, there were Gond kings, but they lost their power after being defeated first by the Marathas and then by Muslim armies. However, some of their estates remained for hundreds of years until India's independence in 1947.


Where Are they Located?

The Jeetwant Gonds live in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

A crude gate on the mud road, the wooden poles on both the sides and the beam across it stands high enough for anyone to enter. There are remains of bundles and ropes hung on it. Among them you may find a new bundle of shrinking animal skin. If you see these before a village, you can be sure you are entering a Gond village.

Jeetwant Gonds are agriculturists and choose to live on the riverbeds close to forests. Most of them possess agricultural land. Those who have a good portion of land cultivate rice, grains and green dal. They often tend goats and cattle. Poorer Jeetwant Gonds work in the fields of richer Gonds. There is not much work available for them except in farming seasons. They love hunting and wild meats are their favorites.

Girls are married between the age of 13 and 15. Weddings are during the summer. A girl and a boy who fall love are allowed to run away together. Once they return, the Panchayat meet to discuss the terms and conditions of the marriage. Other marriages are arranged by the parents. Depending up on the financial conditions of the families the bride groom's parents have to give the bride's parents some amount of money. Commonly Gond people marry their cousins.


Girls are married between the age of 13 and 15. Weddings are during the summer. A girl and a boy who fall love are allowed to run away together. Once they return, the Panchayat meet to discuss the terms and conditions of the marriage. Other marriages are arranged by the parents. Depending up on the financial conditions of the families the bride groom's parents have to give the bride's parents some amount of money. Commonly Gond people marry their cousins.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Jeetwant Gond people believe that witchcraft and evil spirits are the causes for sicknesses, but they can keep them away through blood sacrifices. They have a high-priest who is responsible for three or four villages; this priest offers sacrifices for every village. The sacrifice will be followed by a social dinner. The sacrificial goat has to give permission for the sacrifice by nodding its head. The people will wait till the animal nods before slaughtering it. The whole village witnesses the sacrifice, but only the men enjoy the dinner made by cooking the sacrificed animal. All the men gather at the riverside to prepare the dinner. White or black palm liquor may supplement the dinner. The sacrifice animal's skin is stuffed with hay and hung on the village gate. This is to frighten the evil spirits and give courage to the villagers.

Jeetwant Gond spirituality stresses family and clan gods. Village priests and heads of households carry out these religious duties, which usually involve more blood sacrifices. Other rituals involve offerings of coconuts, flowers, fruits, colored powder or string.


What Are Their Needs?

They need improved educational opportunities for their children and quality medical care as well as health and hygiene education.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Jeetwant Gond people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Gond families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Jeetwant Gond people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Jeetwant Gond people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.


Scripture Prayers for the Gond Jetwant in India.


References

https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/gond/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gond
https://www.everyculture.com/wc/Germany-to-Jamaica/Gonds.html


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Gond Jetwant
People Name in Country Gond Jetwant
Natural Name Jetwant Gond
Alternate Names गोंद जेटवंत
Population this Country 39,000
Population all Countries 39,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 21028
ROP3 Code 117879
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)
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 1
  Uttar Pradesh 39,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.12 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.47 %
Islam
0.24 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.17 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bhojpuri (24,000 speakers)
Language Code bho   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Hindi
10,000
Gondi, Northern
200
Awadhi
40
Primary Language Bhojpuri (24,000 speakers)
Language Code bho   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 10,000
  Gondi, Northern 200
  Awadhi 40
People Groups Speaking Bhojpuri

Primary Language:  Bhojpuri

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1911-1982)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1998-2007)
Bible-Complete No
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Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bhojpuri Jesus Film Project
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General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
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Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Bhojpuri Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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