Gond Sonjhari in India

Gond Sonjhari
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Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Gond Sonjhari
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 57,000
World Population: 57,000
Primary Language: Gondi, Northern
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: New Testament
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Tribal - Gond
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Sonjhari are one of the subgroups of the Gonds. Their name comes from extracting gold from riverbeds and drains. They speak Laria with each other. This language is a blend of Gondi and Oriya. They live in Maharashtra.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Extracting gold is what many of them do for a living. The Sonjhari Gonds prefer cousin marriages. The women play a large part in helping with the needed income. They have extended families and children are expected to obey their elders. They have a traditional council to settle disagreements among them. They are not well educated, so the gospel will need to be given in oral form.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They worship their ancestors. Unlike most Hindu people groups they bury their dead.

What Are Their Needs?

The Sonjhari Gonds need the abundant blessings of Jesus Christ who came to give life to the full.

Prayer Points

Pray that the council leaders come to Jesus Christ and open the door for a movement to Christ. Pray that gospel recordings and the JESUS Film to become easily available. Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead them to the only Savior. Pray for intercessors and workers.

Text Source:   Keith Carey