Introduction / History

Bagata are a scheduled tribe of India. They are thought to be one of the aboriginal tribes. They are also called Bagatha, Bagat, Bagodi, Bogad or Bhakta.

Where Are they Located?

They live in the state of Odisha and also in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They work as farmers to earn a living.

Bagata people celebrate festivals, dances and music. Dhimsa is one of the dances and Bagata tribes of all ages enjoy energetic dancing, and all ages take part. In March and April, they dance at weddings and at social functions. Dance encourages friendships with people in the nearby villages. During festive seasons dancers from a Bagata village go to other villages to dance and to participate in community feasts. The dances of the Bagata are called Sankidi Kelbar. Perhaps the gospel can best be communicated to them through dance.

Bagata speak with one another in a form of the Oriya language. One of their main languages is Telugu. Their local dialect is Adivasi Oriya.

They have a social hierarchy similar to other tribes in Odisha.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Bagata people are mostly Hindus. They worship Hindu gods and goddesses in addition to their family and tribal gods.

What Are Their Needs?

Scripture resources, written, audio, and visual exist in the Telugu language of Bagata people, yet they are unreached.

Their worship of many gods, and their dance, perhaps fills an emotional need, but their genuine spiritual need cannot be touched in these ways.

Bagata people need to see their critical need for their Savior, who loves them and desires a personal relationship with them. They need to see past their world, and see that they have no acceptance with the Creator of the universe, except through His Son.

Prayer Points

Pray that Bagata people will become interested in Jesus Christ via film, recordings and the written word which are available in their Telugu language.
Pray that God will raise up Indian churches to boldly and lovingly evangelize this people group for whom Christ died and rose again.
Pray for a disciple making movement to flourish among them.
Pray that, as David danced before Jehovah God, Bagata people will dance before Him in joyful worship.

Scripture Prayers for the Bagata in India.

References

www.indianetzone.com/8/bagata_tribe.htm
http://www.wycliffe.net/en/searchresults/tabid/88/language/en-us/default.aspx?q=oriya+language
http://www.wycliffe.net/en/searchresults/tabid/88/language/en-us/default.aspx?q=telugu+bible+resources