Tiwa in India

Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Tiwa
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 287,000
World Population: 287,000
Primary Language: Assamese
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 1.80 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Tribal - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Tiwa means people who were lifted from below. The Tiwa people are also called Lalung and they live in Assam and Megalahaya states in northeastern India. They are a tribal people who look more East Asian than South Asian. There are Hill Tiwas and Plains Tiwas. The Hill Tiwas live in the Karbi Anglong District of Assam and in Megalahaya. They speak a Tibeto Burman language. The Plains Tiwas are in the southern bank of the Brahmaputra Valley. They speak Assamese.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They have a chief who looks after their interests. There are strong Christian believers in their part of India who can reach them with the blessings of Jesus Christ.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Many follow their traditional religion of worshipping local gods. They have a religion of their own that is mixed with Hinduism. This people group has lots of festivals, including Christmas!

What Are Their Needs?

There are some Christians among the Tiwa people who can disciple others.

Prayer Points

Pray that believers in northeastern India will help the Tiwa people begin their own disciple making movement.
Pray for spiritual discernment and hunger that will lead them to Jesus Christ.
Pray that their leaders will see that only Jesus Christ provides life to the full.

Text Source:   Joshua Project