Badaga in India

The Badaga 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.

Subgroups: 5

Subgroup Name Population
Adhikari 8,000
Haruva 8,000
Kanaka 8,000
Toreya 8,000
Udaya 8,000

Introduction / History

The Bagada are a land-owning, agricultural Hindu people who live in South India. Badagar comes from the word "vadugar," meaning northerner. According to legend the Bagada migrated from North India to escape Muslim persecution. Most Bagada today reside in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Bagada speak their own Bagada language. The New Testament and the JESUS Film are available in Bagada. Many Bagada also speak Tamil and Kannada which allows them to communicate with others outside of their group. College educated Bagada speak English.

A tiny fraction of Bagada claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In past times, the Bagada lived in rural villages farming their land. Many have relocated to towns and cities of South India. They now earn income from being teachers, government workers, business persons and traders. The Badaga have a well-organized community council called Badaga Sangam. Some Bagada have achieved high political offices in the Indian government.

Rural Bagada grow rice, fruits, vegetables, tea, and coffee. In the social hierarchy, they are one of the higher castes of South India. Bagada often employ lower castes to work their land.

Bagada marry within their group. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. Parents encourage their sons and daughters to get a university education. Families and young people arrange marriages. Sons inherit their father's property and take care of elderly relatives.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Badaga people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Their primary devotion is to the destroyer god Shiva. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

Pride can be a problem for higher caste Hindus like the Bagada. Pride can prevent people from trusting in the Lord and depend on themselves. The Bagada need to understand that Jesus is not another god or guru. He alone can forgive their sins for all of us who need to be united with God.


Prayer Points

Pray the Holy Spirit will create a hunger for spiritual truth among the Badaga people.

Ask the Lord to send Holy Spirit sent anointed to the Bagada.

Pray that the small number of Bagada believers would find fellowship and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

Ask the Lord to raise up a disciple making movement among the Bagada in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Badaga in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badagas#:~:text=The%20Badagas%20are%20an%20ethno,speak%20a%20language%20called%20Badaga

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badagas


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Badaga
People Name in Country Badaga
Alternate Names Badig; Badkar; Badugei; Gounder; Gowder; Odiyar; बडगा
Population this Country 260,000
Population all Countries 260,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
People ID 16272
ROP3 Code 111397
ROP25 Code 300650
ROP25 Name Badaga
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)
Location in Country Tamil Nadu, Madras-Nilgiri, Kunda hills.   Source:  www.ethnologue.com
Total States on file 5
Largest States
Tamil Nadu
235,000
Karnataka
24,000
Kerala
300
West Bengal
20
Odisha
10
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)
Location in Country Tamil Nadu, Madras-Nilgiri, Kunda hills..   Source:  www.ethnologue.com
Total States 5
  Tamil Nadu 235,000
  Karnataka 24,000
  Kerala 300
  West Bengal 20
  Odisha 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.29 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.71 %
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 Badaga (205,000 speakers)
Language Code bfq   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Kannada
9,300
Tamil
4,500
Primary Language Badaga (205,000 speakers)
Language Code bfq   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Kannada 9,300
  Tamil 4,500
People Groups Speaking Badaga

Primary Language:  Badaga

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1852-1992)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1999)
Bible-Complete No
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Badaga Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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