Dom (Hindu traditions) in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Dom tradition says they were cursed by their gods to a life of poverty for killing a cow. Though most live in India, they also live in other countries in South Asia such as Pakistan and Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Day laborers, street musicians and beggars; this doesn't sound like a very meaningful choice of vocations. These are the choices for the Dom people across India.
Dom women are subordinate to the men in society, most often working in the home or supplementing the husband's income by begging. Women do, however, have a role in the ritual and religious spheres. These roles are reinforced by the way Dom children are raised. Education is encouraged for boys, but not for girls.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Doms are committed Hindus, with special devotion to the gods Baba Ramdeo and Bhainro. The Baba Ramdeo temple in Rajasthan is a major tourist attraction. Along with this devotion, each family worships a deity of its own choice. There are also a significant number of Dom Animists who constantly make small animal sacrifices to deter ill luck. There are no more than a few hundred known Christian believers among the Dom population.


What Are Their Needs?

The Dom people need to understand their sense of worth as a community is tied in with the God who created them. They might be looked down upon by Hindu society, but God offers them much more.


Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual breakthrough among the Dom people that will lead them to the cross.
Pray that God would break down centuries-old bondages that keep the Dom people entrapped.
Pray that God would use the Dom people to bring others to faith in Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Dom (Hindu traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dom (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Dom (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Bansmalik; Bhangi; Bhanjra; Chandel; Dhangad; Dom; Domahra; Domar; Domara; Domba; Domban; Dombar; Dombara; Dombari; Dombo; Dombo Dumna; Dombo. Dumna; Dombu; Dome; Domra; Doom; Doomna; Doris; Dum; Dumar; Dum-Mahasha; Dumna; Duria Dom; Kazhai; Kolhati; Koothadi; Mahasa; Mahasha; Mehtar; Mir Sahib; Mirasi; Murdafarash; Omal; Pano; Rana; Rarash; Shri Sudarshan Samaj; Sikhria; Sri Sudarsham Samaj; डोम (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 2,429,000
Population all Countries 2,583,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 49
People ID 16734
ROP3 Code 111977
ROP25 Code 302154
ROP25 Name Dom / Domar / Domban
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 25
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Odisha
801,000
West Bengal
405,000
Punjab
220,000
Bihar
219,000
Jammu and Kashmir
218,000
Jharkhand
190,000
Uttar Pradesh
123,000
Himachal Pradesh
91,000
Madhya Pradesh
52,000
Uttarakhand
34,000
Haryana
31,000
Tamil Nadu
19,000
Chhattisgarh
11,000
Rajasthan
5,100
Delhi
4,400
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 25  (only 20 largest shown)
  Odisha 801,000
  West Bengal 405,000
  Punjab 220,000
  Bihar 219,000
  Jammu and Kashmir 218,000
  Jharkhand 190,000
  Uttar Pradesh 123,000
  Himachal Pradesh 91,000
  Madhya Pradesh 52,000
  Uttarakhand 34,000
  Haryana 31,000
  Tamil Nadu 19,000
  Chhattisgarh 11,000
  Rajasthan 5,100
  Delhi 4,400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.08 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.25 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.65 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Odia (728,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 55
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
526,000
Bengali
352,000
Punjabi, Eastern
184,000
Dogri
118,000
Bhojpuri
75,000
Domari
34,000
Magahi
29,000
Chhattisgarhi
24,000
Kangri
19,000
Garhwali
19,000
Maithili
17,000
Tamil
17,000
Telugu
13,000
Mandeali
11,000
Desiya
10,000
Primary Language Odia (728,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 55
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 526,000
  Bengali 352,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 184,000
  Dogri 118,000
  Bhojpuri 75,000
  Domari 34,000
  Magahi 29,000
  Chhattisgarhi 24,000
  Kangri 19,000
  Garhwali 19,000
  Maithili 17,000
  Tamil 17,000
  Telugu 13,000
  Mandeali 11,000
  Desiya 10,000
People Groups Speaking Odia

Primary Language:  Odia

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1809-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1815-2021)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Odia Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
Photo Source Sandy Saab - Flickr  Creative Commons 
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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