Konkani Kunbi in India

The Konkani Kunbi have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Kunbi (alternate names of Reddi and Desai) are a prominent community of Gujarat. Traditionally the Reddy belong to the fourth of the Hindu Varnas, Sudra. One section of the Reddy is called Kapu which means guardian.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The majority of the Kunbi communities are non-vegetarian, and all the communities take rice as their staple cereal. Jowar, wheat, bajra and ragi are the other cereals they eat.

The Kunbi community have social divisions such as clans, lineage, subcastes and sects. These social divisions regulate marital alliances. They speak the Kannada and Telugu languages.

Among the Kunbi people, cross-cousin marriages of both types are allowed. Widow remarriage is not permitted. Being a dominant community, the Reddy have been primarily landlords and landholders. Social control is regulated through traditional caste and village councils.

The traditional occupation of most of the Reddy groups is settled farming, followed by animal husbandry and paid labour. Both men and women smoke a homemade cheroot (chutta) which results in a high incidence of mouth and throat cancer.


The Kunbi fear Christianity as an invading religious system to their families and communities.
What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindu by faith and worship many deities. Their main festivals are Ugadi, Akshade and Dussehra. They play bhajans and kirtans.


Prayer Points

For the salvation of the Kunbi people and that God may send several Christian workers to work among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.
Pray for the Kunbi Christians to reach out to their own people.
Pray that their men and women may give up smoking


Scripture Prayers for the Kunbi Konkani in India.


References

(Alternate names: Kapu, Akutota, Desai, Dommari, Guruda, Illela, Kuruva, Musugu, Nadi Taram, Panta, Sajjana, Renati, etc.)


Profile Source:   India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Kunbi Konkani
People Name in Country Kunbi Konkani
Natural Name Konkani Kunbi
Pronunciation kohn-kuh-NEE KOON-bee
Alternate Names कुंबी कोंकनी
Population this Country 792,000
Population all Countries 792,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 16
People ID 21337
ROP3 Code 118164
ROP25 Code 304381
ROP25 Name Kunbi
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 3
Largest States
Maharashtra
715,000
Goa
71,000
Karnataka
5,000
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 3
  Maharashtra 715,000
  Goa 71,000
  Karnataka 5,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
3.81 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
96.15 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.04 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Konkani, Goan (323,000 speakers)
Language Code gom   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Marathi
261,000
Konkani
83,000
Hindi
4,200
Kannada
1,700
Primary Language Konkani, Goan (323,000 speakers)
Language Code gom   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Marathi 261,000
  Konkani 83,000
  Hindi 4,200
  Kannada 1,700
People Groups Speaking Konkani, Goan
Photo Source Thanuja Mummidi - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.