Introduction / History

Kola means bamboo or stick. The Kolowar are a scheduled tribe that speaks Kolami. Scheduled tribes have low status in Hindu India. Though most live in eastern Maharashtra, some of the Kolowar live in Telangana and other nearby states.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kolowar people mostly work in cultivation and as day laborers. The women help with agriculture. The Kolowar people make baskets and bamboo products.

They are monogamous, meaning that marriage is between one man and one woman. Normally a son takes over as the family head after the father dies, but the Kolowar are starting to change this by allowing the mother to take over as leader.

They have a community council to look after their interests. They prefer herbal medicine over modern medicine. They have a low literacy level.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kolowar people are Hindu, which encompasses the ancient religions of South Asia. Unlike most Hindu communities they bury their dead.

What Are Their Needs?

There are very few Christ followers among this scheduled tribe. Tribal peoples are usually open to the gospel. Therefore, it’s clear there are strong spiritual impediments to the gospel. However, the JESUS Film and gospel recordings exist in the Kolowars’ Northwestern Kolami language.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Kolowar to know that though lowly in their society, they can be children of the King. Pray that the community council leaders would come to Jesus Christ and lead their people into a movement to Christ. Pray that gospel recordings and the JESUS Film would be used by the Lord to begin home-based fellowships. Pray for Kolowar disciples to make more disciples.

Scripture Prayers for the Kolowar in India.