Koch (Hindu traditions) in India

Koch (Hindu traditions)
Photo Source:  Anonymous 
Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Koch (Hindu traditions)
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 60,000
World Population: 96,900
Primary Language: Koch
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.58 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Portions
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: No
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Tribal - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Koch people speak Rajbanshi. They have two subgroups, the Tintekiya and the Chapra.

They live in Bangladesh, Nepal and India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Both the Tintekiya and the Chapra Koch are primarily farmers, with some farming their own land and most working as hired day laborers for neighboring Bengalis. They continue to live primarily in Koch villages in simple homes with mud walls and floors and thatched or corrugated tin roofs.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Within Bangladesh the Tibeto- Burman Koch generally continue to follow their traditional "Sonaton" religion, though some say they are Hindu. Most of the Indo-Aryan Koch speakers in Bangladesh have embraced Islam

What Are Their Needs?

The Koch are poor and uneducated. A Christian education and/or community development organization could possibly be a real blessing to the Koch. At the same time, it seems the Koch tend to equate Christianity with opportunities for education and health care and are in great need of someone to share true Christianity with them.

Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up Koch people who are more desirous to know the truth than to stay on the broad road to death.

Ask God to send loving, committed workers to the Koch tribe in the near future.

Pray the Koch people would no longer be hidden away from the influence of Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project