The word "Sounti" comes from the word Sounta and means "gathered." From 16 main tribes, they, alone, have received recognition. As the Sounti people “gathered” and merged with other outcast groups, they gained in numbers. They are known for living peacefully with other tribes.
The Sounti share wells with their neighbors. They have their own healthcare, but they also use modern medicine. Sounti people work primarily in agriculture. Women do housework and are laborers. They only marry within their social group. They are not vegetarians and rice is their main cereal. They have one spouse, and divorce is allowed. Inheritance is intended for males, and the oldest son becomes the leader of the family.
They are mostly Hindus and follow local traditions.
They have a low literacy level requiring audio and visual resources which are available, including the printed New Testament in the Oria language. Someone needs to take these resources to the Sounti people in this predominantly Hindu culture.
Pray that long-term workers will be sent to Odisha to earn confidence of Sounti people.
Pray that doors will open for Scripture resources to be used to reach Sounti people with the truth of the gospel.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead the Sounti people from darkness to the light of Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Sounti in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Sounti |
People Name in Country | Sounti |
Alternate Names | सौंती |
Population this Country | 135,000 |
Population all Countries | 135,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 3 |
People ID | 18155 |
ROP3 Code | 113666 |
ROP25 Code | 307678 |
ROP25 Name | Sounti |
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 | 2 | |||
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 | 2 |
Odisha 135,000 | |
Delhi 100 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.10 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.53 %
|
Islam |
0.07 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.02 %
|
Unknown |
0.29 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Odia (110,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | ory Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 18 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Odia (110,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ory Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 18 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Kuvi 1,600 | |
Sora 400 | |
Hindi 300 | |
Ho 200 | |
Desiya 200 | |
Munda 100 | |
English 60 | |
Telugu 60 | |
Santhali 50 | |
Juang 40 | |
Koda 30 | |
Bengali 20 | |
Marathi 20 | |
Mundari 20 | |
Urdu 10 | |
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 |
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. |