The Balija people are exclusively Hindu and reside as an ethnic minority with only a small political voice in domestic and governmental affairs. They derive their income from a variety of sources. Some trade in bangles, pearls, and salt, while others have turned to areas of cultivation and land ownership. A few have ventured into governmental and medical services. Social life follows along lines of the strict caste system. They may marry outside the clan, but only within their caste. Generally they are not vegetarians and they are allowed to drink alcohol, two factors that indicate a low caste status. Marriages are arranged at birth, and they do not allow widows to remarry. Unlike most Western civilizations, the Balija people bury their dead in a sitting position. Today, all of the Balija people face a Christ-less eternity at the end of their life.
The birth of Jesus Christ in a lonely Jewish village was largely unnoticed by society 2000 years ago. Today He is the hope of all mankind. But, for the Balija people residing in southern India and Bangladesh, His message is still not noticed.
* Scripture Prayers for the Balija (Hindu traditions) in India.
* Pray that these souls will be allowed to experience true spiritual freedom in Christ.
* Pray that neighboring Christians will take the gospel message to Balija communities
Profile Source: Global Prayer Digest |
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-08-06 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-01-19 |
People Name General | Balija (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Balija (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | BAH-lee-jah |
Population this Country | 1,759,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,759,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 35 |
Alternate Names | Ambiga; Balegara; Baliga; Balija Naidu; Besta; Bestala; Bestar; Bholla; Bogam; Boya Bestha; Chetti Balija; Deogarhiya Gond; Gajula; Gangemakkalu; Gavara; Gazula; Gazula Balija; Gazut Balija; Gudem Dasari; Kabbera; Kasba; Kasban; Kasbi; Kasbi Khelna; Kasbin; Khelda; Khelta; Kisbe; Mannur; Munnur; Mutrasi; Naidu; Parivara; Parivarattar; Rajamandir; Siviar; Siviyar; Thogra; Thota Balija; Toreyar; Vaduga; Vaidu; Valia; Varala; Veerasaiva Lingayat; बलिजा (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 16312 |
ROP3 Code | 111442 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Balija (Hindu traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Balija (Hindu traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 45 (only 15 largest shown) |
Poosala 13,000 | |
Mannan 5,200 | |
Tathinalu 5,000 | |
Pera 4,500 | |
Peta 2,000 | |
Chetti 1,100 | |
Desa 700 | |
Kaikala 700 | |
Siviar 600 | |
Bachili 500 |
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 | 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 20 |
Karnataka 1,033,000 | |
Telangana 312,000 | |
Tamil Nadu 237,000 | |
Odisha 81,000 | |
Maharashtra 49,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 24,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 15,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 5,600 | |
Kerala 1,700 | |
Jharkhand 800 | |
Delhi 400 | |
Bihar 300 | |
Gujarat 300 | |
Goa 300 | |
Chandigarh 70 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Kannada (835,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 13 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Kannada (835,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 13 |
Secondary Languages | |
Telugu 807,000 | |
Tamil 82,000 | |
Odia 21,000 | |
Tulu 4,700 | |
Chhattisgarhi 4,600 | |
Konkani 2,400 | |
Marathi 1,600 | |
Konkani, Goan 1,500 | |
Gondi, Northern 1,500 | |
Hindi 700 | |
Kurux 200 | |
Kui 200 | |
People Groups | Speaking Kannada |
Primary Language: Kannada
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1812-1988) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1823-1995) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1827-2016) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
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 | Father's Love Letter |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture / Bible |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Kannada |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Following Jesus (India, JF Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Kannada |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | Got Questions Ministry |
Mobile App | Download Audio Bible app as APK File from FCBH |
Mobile App | Download Audio Bible app from Google Play Store |
Mobile App | Download Bible from Google Play Store |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: ಕನ್ನಡ - Kannada |
Text / Printed Matter | Bibles, Bible League |
Text / Printed Matter | International Bible Society |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.01 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.30 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.69 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2021 India Missions Association All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Global Prayer Digest |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |