Koppala Velama in India

The Koppala Velama 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

Velamas are sometimes called Yelamas. We do not know anything about their origin. This Hindu people group lives in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The occupation of this people group is agriculture. Velama Koppala people enjoy their food hot and spicy, with many vegetables, fish, eggs, chicken and flatbreads. Dinners are usually large meals.
They observe a custom in that a man marries his maternal uncle's daughter. Koppala Velama widows are permitted to remarry seven times, and an elder brother is allowed to marry the widow of his younger brother. Women wear on the right wrist a solid silver bangle, and on the left wrist two bangles with black glass bangles, which are broken when a woman becomes a widow.
The custom of sending a sword to represent an absent bridegroom at a wedding is not uncommon among Velamas.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Velama Kpoppala people are fully Hindu in their religious practice and culture. They obey and fear multitudes of gods. These gods control their lives in every respect. Audio, visual and written Bible resources exist in Telugu, their spoken language, however there are no genuine Christians among them.


What Are Their Needs?

The most important need of Velama Koppala people is to understand that their good works, sacrifices and worship of false gods will never pay the penalty for their sins, and that Almighty Creator God has made the provision for them to live eternally with him.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Velama Koppala 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 Velama Koppala families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Velama Koppala people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Velama Koppala 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 Velama Koppala in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Velama Koppala
People Name in Country Velama Koppala
Natural Name Koppala Velama
Alternate Names Koppala Velama; Koppula Velaa; Thurpu Hindu Velama; Thurpu Koppala Velama; Tothala Velama; वेलमा कोप्पाला
Population this Country 26,000
Population all Countries 26,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 21358
ROP3 Code 118182
ROP25 Code 308583
ROP25 Name Velama
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 2
Largest States
Telangana
26,000
Andhra Pradesh
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 2
  Telangana 26,000
  Andhra Pradesh 60
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
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 (26,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Telugu (26,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
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)
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 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 Jesus Film: view in Telugu 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 The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
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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