Tribal Koli 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.

Subgroups: 2

Subgroup Name Population
Rathda 54,000
Sakwar 54,000

Introduction / History

The Koli are one of South Asia's most ancient tribes. They have Scheduled Tribe status in India, which according to India's constitution, means they are disadvantaged economically and socially. That means they are offered special privileges regarding jobs and education.
Because of their history of resistance to outside influence, they have their own identity with minimal outside influence.
They straddle India's western state of Gujarat and Pakistan's Sindhi province.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The tribal Koli hunt, farm and fish. Some are involved with the fishing industry.
A highly independent people, they have their own music, dance and festivals. Yet the ways of Hinduism have seeped into their beliefs.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The tribal Koli 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 or Jews. 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?

Like all other peoples of the world, this people group needs the blessings and guidance that only Jesus Christ can offer.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to bless this community economically and spiritually.
Ask God to raise up tribal Koli who are more desirous to know the truth than to stay on the broad road.
Ask God to send loving, committed workers to the Koli in the near future.
Pray the Koli would no longer be hidden away from the influence of Christ.
Pray for many of them to make disciples who will make even more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Koli, tribe in India.


References

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Koli-caste
https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kolis
https://www.everyculture.com/South-Asia/Koli.html


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Koli, tribe
People Name in Country Koli, tribe
Natural Name Tribal Koli
Alternate Names
Population this Country 142,000
Population all Countries 221,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
People ID 21585
ROP3 Code 118389
ROP25 Code 304135
ROP25 Name Koli (ST)
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)
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 1
  Gujarat 142,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
3.74 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
95.79 %
Islam
0.16 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.31 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (64,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Kacchi
52,000
Koli, Wadiyari
2,400
Hindi
500
Primary Language Gujarati (64,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Kacchi 52,000
  Koli, Wadiyari 2,400
  Hindi 500
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
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 Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video 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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
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: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
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.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024