The Gatti are also called Poladava and Holadava, meaning "men of the field." They are a small caste of farmers living mainly near Kumbla and Someswara in South Canara on the coast of Karnataka.
They follow the law of inheritance in the female line and have exogamous septs. This means that the group is divided into one or more segments and marriage only takes place between the segments, never within them. On the day of the final death ceremony they build car-like structures if the deceased was an important local person. The Gattis and Bants dine with each other but do not intermarry. The leader of the Gattis is called Gunkara.
They are Hindu. The god of the Someswara temple is the caste deity and every family pays a yearly fee or else they are excommunicated.
The Gatti people need to experience the abundant life offered only by Jesus Christ.
Pray that the Gatti leaders will come to Jesus Christ and lead their community into a Christ-ward movement. Pray that gospel materials will bring the Gatti to put all their faith in Jesus Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Gatti in India.
| Profile Source: Keith Carey |
