Lonari Kunbi 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

Traditionally the Kunbi peoples belong to the fourth of the Hindu Varnas, Sudra. The Kunbis have several sub-sectors including the Anjna, the Lewa, the Kadwa and the Lonari. These social divisions regulate marital alliances.

The Lonari Kunbi people live entirely in central India. They have been farm workers, land owners, salt workers or cement makers in the past.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Some of the Lonari Kunbi now own land and work in cultivation. They sell vegetables and other food at the market. Some work for the government. They are more likely, however, to still make cement or burn charcoal. Some still prepare salt like their ancestors.

Their marriage ceremonies have several stages. Like most Hindu people groups, family elders arrange for marriages. A Brahmin priest picks an auspicious day based on astrological forecasts and a series of rituals involving heaps of rice and a betel nut. Each couple has a chosen deity to protect their marriage. They are endogamous (they prefer to marry within the caste) and have cousin marriages but do not marry others with the same surname. They allow for divorce and remarriage for various reasons including incompatibility, foul temper, adultery and impotency. The divorced and bereaved can only marry those in a similar position to themselves. For example, a bachelor cannot marry a widow. Sons inherit the property and the dead are usually cremated.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Lonari Kunbi people worship all Hindu gods and participate in all Hindu festivals. They also worship saints and gurus. They also worship certain animals such as the cobra, the horse and the cow. Some worship banyan trees. When there is an outbreak of cholera or smallpox they worship Mari and Shtala. The cremate the dead but bury those who are small children and those who died of smallpox or leprosy.


What Are Their Needs?

The Lonari Kunbi people need to have the chance to make Jesus Christ their Lord so they can experience his life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray for spiritual hunger that will lead these people to the foot of the cross. Pray for intercessors and workers to bless the Lonari Kunbi people with the presence of Christ. Pray that gospel materials and the internet will lead them to begin their own disciple making movement.


Scripture Prayers for the Kunbi Lonari in India.


References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kunbi Lonari
People Name in Country Kunbi Lonari
Natural Name Lonari Kunbi
Alternate Names Lonari; कुंबी लोनारी
Population this Country 114,000
Population all Countries 114,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 21338
ROP3 Code 118165
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
98,000
Madhya Pradesh
16,000
Andhra Pradesh
200
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 98,000
  Madhya Pradesh 16,000
  Andhra Pradesh 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.20 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.80 %
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 Marathi (89,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Hindi
6,400
Khandesi
4,400
Nimadi
1,500
Ahirani
40
Primary Language Marathi (89,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 6,400
  Khandesi 4,400
  Nimadi 1,500
  Ahirani 40
People Groups Speaking Marathi

Primary Language:  Marathi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1807-1957)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1982)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1821-2024)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video 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 Marathi 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 World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
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 direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Marathi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Marathi Bible (मराठी बायबल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Marathi Contemporary Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Marathi Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Marathi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Marathi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Marathi Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Marathi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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.


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