Gola Yadav 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

Status is important in Hindu cultures. Yadav peoples, including the Gola subgroup, are concerned about their status within the Hindu system. The Yadav peoples hold a place of honor, since traditionally they deal with cattle and dairy products in a culture where the cow is sacred. There have been times in their long history that Yadav peoples have held power and wealth.

Today some Gola Yadav are classified as "other backward castes" or OBCs in some Indian states. This sounds derisive, but in fact, this refers to people who hold some status, but are not part of the most prestigious communities. The OBC people are eligible for government jobs and special consideration for university admissions.

Gola live throughout India but are concentrated in the southeast states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The primary language of the Gola is Telugu. Many resources are available in Telugu including a complete Bible, the JESUS Film and radio programs. Many Gola also speak Tamil and Hindi. College educated Gola speak English. There are few if any followers of Jesus Christ among the Gola community.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today, Gola Yadav are a mixture landowners and landless farm workers. Many have left their traditional occupation of taking care of cattle. University graduates among the Gola work in science, politics, government, medicine, and engineering. Many Gola still practice their traditional occupation of raising cattle. They sell dairy products but as devout Hindus do not eat or sell beef.

The Gola marry within the Yadav peoples. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. Sons inherit property and take care of elderly relatives. Most Gola encourage their sons and daughters to obtain a university education. Brahmin priests officiate at important Gola life ceremonies.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gola Yadav people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

Since there are no known believers among the Gola Yadav, they will have to hear about Christ from someone from a different community. Their honored status might pose another reason for them to not accept spiritual beliefs outside of Hindu teachings. The Gola must come to understand that Christ is not another guru or Hindu god. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray that there will be healings and miracles in the name of Jesus that will cause many Gola Yadav to realize Jesus is the only one worthy of devotion and praise.

Pray that the community council leaders will come to Jesus Christ and lead others of the Yadav community to him.

Pray for entire Gola Yadav families to turn their hearts to Jesus as they hear of his great power and mercy.

Ask the Lord to send workers to the Gola to make disciples who will make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Yadav Gola in India.


References

Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yadav
https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0B10BMNU


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Yadav Gola
People Name in Country Yadav Gola
Natural Name Gola Yadav
Pronunciation GO-lah YAH-dahv
Alternate Names Advi Golla; Goala; Gopala; Gouli; Gulla; Gwala; Handi Golla; Konda; Rawat; Yadav; Yadava; यादव गोला
Population this Country 5,498,000
Population all Countries 5,505,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 110
People ID 21296
ROP3 Code 118119
ROP25 Code 308887
ROP25 Name Yadava
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 15
Largest States
Andhra Pradesh
2,689,000
Tamil Nadu
984,000
Uttar Pradesh
569,000
Odisha
377,000
Telangana
212,000
Madhya Pradesh
177,000
Maharashtra
125,000
Chhattisgarh
118,000
Gujarat
117,000
Karnataka
116,000
Delhi
8,400
Puducherry
5,000
Uttarakhand
600
Dadra and Nagar Have
500
Daman and Diu
300
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 15
  Andhra Pradesh 2,689,000
  Tamil Nadu 984,000
  Uttar Pradesh 569,000
  Odisha 377,000
  Telangana 212,000
  Madhya Pradesh 177,000
  Maharashtra 125,000
  Chhattisgarh 118,000
  Gujarat 117,000
  Karnataka 116,000
  Delhi 8,400
  Puducherry 5,000
  Uttarakhand 600
  Dadra and Nagar Have 500
  Daman and Diu 300
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Telugu (2,780,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 21
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Tamil
656,000
Hindi
556,000
Odia
300,000
Bhojpuri
181,000
Kannada
111,000
Gujarati
92,000
Chhattisgarhi
72,000
Marathi
70,000
Bengali
9,500
Malvi
6,700
Bundeli
5,800
Khandesi
5,200
Awadhi
2,900
Kacchi
2,500
Konkani
1,200
Primary Language Telugu (2,780,000 speakers)
Language Code tel   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 21
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Tamil 656,000
  Hindi 556,000
  Odia 300,000
  Bhojpuri 181,000
  Kannada 111,000
  Gujarati 92,000
  Chhattisgarhi 72,000
  Marathi 70,000
  Bengali 9,500
  Malvi 6,700
  Bundeli 5,800
  Khandesi 5,200
  Awadhi 2,900
  Kacchi 2,500
  Konkani 1,200
People Groups Speaking Telugu

Primary Language:  Telugu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1966)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1818-1989)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1854-2022)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Telugu 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
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Meena Kadri - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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