Introduction / History

The Dalu are an indigenous people in India and Bangladesh that traces their ancestry to Arjuna. Their people were ousted from Manipur, and they settled for a time in Assam before spreading out into other nearby locations including what is now Odisha and West Bengal. Most of the Dalu people live in the Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal, though some live in Bangladesh. Their language is Dalu, which is a dialect of Hajong. However, they are all bilingual and speak Bengali, the predominant language of Bangladesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

These are landless farmers. About 90 percent do not own the land they farm. They are landless laborers. It is estimated that 90% are unable to read.

The Dalu people eat rice and various meats, but no beef or buffalo. They also drink a homemade fermented rice drink, even though alcohol is forbidden in Islam. There are a couple of Dalu clans, and traditionally people could not marry outside of their clan without paying a heavy penalty.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Dalu people originally were animists. They followed the “Dalu Path.” Slowly they have been moving from tribal clan identities to Hinduism and Islam. Those in Bangladesh are likely to identify as Muslim, though their beliefs are dominated by folk practices. For example, they believe in a guardian spirit for their villages.

What Are Their Needs?

The Dalu people need to see living Christianity in action. They need to know that a relationship with Jesus Christ helps families and communities to flourish, including theirs if they would only allow for it. Their literacy rate is very low, so they will need oral gospel materials.

Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Dalu people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into the entire Dalu society as all believers learn to love others.
Pray for families of Dalu believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.
Pray that soon there will be Dalu disciples discipling others in the ways of the Lord.

Scripture Prayers for the Dalu in Bangladesh.

References

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dalu
http://krepublishers.com/02-Journals/JSSA/JSSA-11-0-000-20-Web/JSSA-11-1-2-000-20-Abst-PDF/JSSA-11-1-2-040-20-339-Hajowary-M/JSSA-11-1-2-040-20-339-Hajowary-M-Tx[5].pdf