The Dhanka are also known as Dhankia. They are a sub-division of India's Bhil tribes.
In the past, the Dhanka were forest hunters or engaged in the services of landowners as farmers or soldier guards. Nearly 70% of the Dhanka migrated to cities by 1960.
Over 90% of the Dhanka are Hindus, but small numbers are Muslims or Christians. Over half of the Dhanka live in Gujarat state with smaller populations in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and a small population in Madhya Pradesh. An even smaller number are further west in neighboring Pakistan. Those in Pakistan speak Sindhi rather than Gujarati.
They no longer have any land for agriculture and after migrating into the cities and they no longer have farming skills. The Dhanka often work in electricity and water works departments. Dhanka only marry within their community.
Although the Dhanka are known as hard workers, they are often very poor.
In both India and Pakistan, the Dhanka people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. 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 or Jews. 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.
The Dhanka people need the Holy Spirit to open their eyes so they can see Jesus as he is.
Pray for many from this unreached people group to understand both God's judgment and his majestic glory.
Pray for loving workers to go to the Dhanka people in India, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.
Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that result in thousands of new disciples who share their faith with others.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhanka
Scripture Prayers for the Dhanka in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Dhanka |
People Name in Country | Dhanka |
Alternate Names | Dhanak; Dhankia; Dhanuk; Dhunia; Dhunka; Dhunka Golandaj; Dhunkar; Golandaj; Kadore; Karar; Karare; Korar; Tetaria; Valvi; ढँका |
Population this Country | 502,000 |
Population all Countries | 506,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 10 |
People ID | 16706 |
ROP3 Code | 111941 |
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) | ||||||
Total States on file | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
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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) |
Total States | 5 |
Gujarat 331,000 | |
Rajasthan 114,000 | |
Maharashtra 41,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 7,600 | |
Odisha 200 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.01 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.29 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
97.48 %
|
Islam |
1.85 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.03 %
|
Unknown |
0.33 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Gujarati (280,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 20 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Gujarati (280,000 speakers) |
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 20 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Hindi 37,000 | |
Dhundari 27,000 | |
Bhili 22,000 | |
Marwari 15,000 | |
Shekhawati 11,000 | |
Marathi 11,000 | |
Bagri 4,200 | |
Nimadi 4,200 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 3,000 | |
Ahirani 1,500 | |
Urdu 1,400 | |
Dangi 1,200 | |
Telugu 400 | |
Mewari 300 | |
Odia 200 | |
People Groups | Speaking Gujarati |
Primary Language: Gujarati
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1809-1965) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1820-1985) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1823-2021) |
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 |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Mukta Prasad |
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. |