The Munda probably came to India from South East Asia hundreds of years ago. Most Munda live across northeast and central India. Most Indian Hindus see the Munda as outside the caste system. The Munda are one of the largest tribal people groups of India. They are one of the Scheduled Classes, which means the Munda are guaranteed places in education and government jobs. The Munda speak many different regional languages including their own language of Mundari, Assamese and Hindi. During the colonial period much of their land was taken away and they became agricultural workers tied to the land.
The Munda live primarily in the northeast Indian states of Assam, Jharkand, Odisha and West Bengal.
The Munda have traditionally been farm laborers, woodcutters and basket weavers. They live in their own villages although some educated Munda have moved to the cities. They are endogamous, that is, they marry within their community. Society is patriarchal with older men ruling over the villages. A newly married couple lives with or near the husband's parents. Sons inherit land, houses and possessions. The main occupation of the Munda men and women is agriculture with most working fields owned by others. The Munda eat meat except for beef. Their main food is rice along with fruits and vegetables. The Munda have elaborate rituals to celebrate birth, death, engagement and marriage according to the Wikipedia article on the Munda.
The majority of the Munda consider themselves Hindus. However, orthodox Hindus see the Munda as practicing a religion called Sarnaism, the religion of the holy woods or Sal trees. Followers of Sarnaism worship the Creator God, Dharmesh or Singbonga, and the Mother Earth Goddess, Chalapachho Devi. Those who practice Sarnaism worship in village temples or in sacred groves of Sal trees. Each village has one or more priests who lead in worship. A small percent of Munda call themselves Christians.
* Scripture Prayers for the Munda in India.
* Pray the Lord would lead Christian workers to become friends with the Munda and help them with their medical, educational and business needs.
* Pray the Munda Christians would receive Bible and leadership training and be willing to share the gospel with their brothers and sisters.
* Pray that Bible believing churches would be established among the Munda.
Profile Source: David Kugel |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-11-08 |
People Name General | Munda |
People Name in Country | Munda |
Population this Country | 3,665,000 |
Population all Countries | 3,810,000 |
Total Countries | 5 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 2 ● |
Unreached | No |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 6 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | |
Alternate Names | Colh; Haroko; Hor; Horohon; Horo-hon; Kaur; Manki; Mudus; Mundu; Mura; मुंडा |
People ID | 13867 |
ROP3 Code | 106893 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Tribal - other |
People Group | Munda |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Tribal - other |
People Group | Munda |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 20 (only 15 largest shown) |
Haro Kili 136,000 | |
Munda Kili 136,000 | |
Nag Kili 136,000 | |
Soi Kili 136,000 | |
Nagbansi 29,000 | |
Nagpuria Munda 27,000 | |
Kolhani Munda 26,000 | |
Lohara Munda 26,000 | |
Tamadia Munda 26,000 | |
Santali Munda 25,000 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 23 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 23 (only 20 largest shown) |
Assam 1,432,000 | |
Jharkhand 1,236,000 | |
Odisha 557,000 | |
West Bengal 366,000 | |
Arunachal Pradesh 17,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 15,000 | |
Tripura 15,000 | |
Bihar 14,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 5,100 | |
Manipur 2,300 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 2,100 | |
Nagaland 700 | |
Rajasthan 400 | |
Maharashtra 400 | |
Delhi 300 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Mundari (1,058,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | unr Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 75 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Mundari (1,058,000 speakers) |
Language Code | unr Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 75 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Assamese 1,026,000 | |
Hindi 462,000 | |
Munda 329,000 | |
Bengali 298,000 | |
Odia 289,000 | |
Santhali 65,000 | |
Ho 47,000 | |
Kurux 44,000 | |
Chhattisgarhi 20,000 | |
Sadri 16,000 | |
Marathi 5,300 | |
Kuvi 4,800 | |
Magahi 3,600 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 1,700 | |
Kharia 1,700 | |
People Groups | Speaking Mundari |
Primary Language: Mundari
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1876-1965) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2020-1895) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1910-2002) |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Mundari |
General | Gospel website in this language |
Text / Printed Matter | Jesus Messiah comic book |
Text / Printed Matter | Online Bible text (Scripture Earth) |
Text / Printed Matter | World Missionary Press Booklets |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.05 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
19.36 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
63.01 %
|
Islam |
0.20 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.01 %
|
Unknown |
17.36 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |