Garoda (Hindu traditions) in India

Garoda (Hindu traditions)
Photo Source:  Copyrighted © 2024
Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Garoda (Hindu traditions)
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 150,000
World Population: 163,000
Primary Language: Gujarati
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.05 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Dalit - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Traditionally, the Garoda are priests to the Vankar, Chamar, Khalpa, Nadia, Turi, Tirgar, and Shenva communities, who also engage them as astrologers.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Their women mainly do household work. The earlier practice of child marriage has been replaced by adult marriage.

The Garoda are strictly vegetarian, and their staple cereals are wheat and bajra. They have territorial subgroups, which are also marriage circles and marriages are to occur only within these marriage circles. Common surnames include Srimali, Sharma, Gandhi, Pandiya, Srigaur, Purani, etc.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Each of the Garoda gotras (clans) is associated with a specific Hindu deity.

What Are Their Needs?

Lack of Christian workers who are well prepared for the task is usually a hindrance as the gospel goes forth in the world.

The Garoda have a fairly high literacy rate. Printed presentations of gospel materials will be useful, as well as oral presentations. Workers are needed.

Prayer Points

Please pray the Lord will soon send loving loving workers to tell these people about his son, Jesus Christ.

Please pray the Garoda community will soon be completely set free from the influence of evil spiritual forces and committed to the ways of Jesus Christ.

Pray for Garoda disciples to make more disciples.

Pray for their families and villages to be blessed by the Lord of lords.

Text Source:   Joshua Project