Teli Gangauta (Hindu traditions) in Nepal


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Teli Gangauta of southeastern Nepal are a people whose traditional occupation was oil pressing. The word Teli comes from the Hindi word for oil. The Teli would use oxen to crush mustard, sunflower, sesame seeds and groundnuts to obtain oil. The oil was used for cooking, lighting and medicine.

Today industrial, mechanical means are used to crush the seeds or nuts. Some Teli are still involved in the production and distribution of oils. Many Teli have taken up other professions like factory work, trade, banking, transportation and hotel work. The Teli are considered to be of the Vaishya or merchant caste, the third of the four major castes of Hinduism. Land is the main economic resource for the majority of the rural Teli community. Some have taken up animal husbandry as a vocation rearing sheep and goats.

The Teli encourage education for both their sons and daughters. The primary language of the Teli of Nepal is Maithili.


Where Are they Located?

The Teli Gangauta of Nepal live in the states of Sagarmatha and Kosi. The vast majority of this people live in India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Teli Gangauta marry only within their community. Family elders arrange marriages on both sides. The bride's family pays a dowry. Sons inherit parental property. In past times the Teli lived in extended families in which sons' families lived with or near their parents. They are now gradually changing to nuclear or single unit families. Women contribute to family income by weaving cotton into clothes and other useful items.

The Teli people have many folk songs and tales, and the women sing and dance to the accompaniment of the drums on holidays and special occasions.

A council of elders promotes the Teli's interests and decides legal disputes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Teli Gangauta practice Hinduism, influenced by folk religion. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Teli Gangauta visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. Their primary deity of the Teli is Shiva, the destroyer god. The Teli also worship clan deities and their ancestors. Their dead are cremated and the ashes put into a river.

The main yearly holidays of the Teli Gangauta people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Teli Gangauta of Nepal need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see the love and mercy of Christ lived out in practical ways before them especially in light of the recent earthquakes that struck Nepal. The Teli would benefit by Christian agricultural experts teaching them how to increase their crops yields.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christian workers to be effective in demonstrating how Jesus blesses and heals families and communities.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Teli Gangauta people a love for God's Word and a desire to spread its influence.
Pray that God will overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of His Gospel among the Teli Gangauta community.


Scripture Prayers for the Teli Gangauta (Hindu traditions) in Nepal.


References

peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/teli/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teli
peoplegroups.org/Explore/groupdetails.aspx?peid=41388


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Teli Gangauta (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Teli Gangauta (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation TEL-ee GAHN-gaow-tah
Alternate Names mandal; टेली गणगौता (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 15,000
Population all Countries 696,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 21259
ROP3 Code 118081
ROP25 Code 302557
ROP25 Name Gangauta
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 4
Largest States
Sagarmatha
8,400
Kosi
3,700
Janakpur
1,600
Narayani
900
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 4
  Sagarmatha 8,400
  Kosi 3,700
  Janakpur 1,600
  Narayani 900
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (12,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
600
Nepali
400
Magahi
50
Primary Language Maithili (12,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 600
  Nepali 400
  Magahi 50
People Groups Speaking Maithili

Primary Language:  Maithili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010)
Bible-Complete No
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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maithili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Maithili Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Dino Sassi, Marcel Fayon - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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