Kanaura 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

The classification of the Kinnaura is complicated. Although the Indian government has granted them status as a scheduled tribe, there appear to be at least several different language and people groups within this group called Kinnaura. The Ethnologue, which attempts to list every language in the world, has several listings.

Kinnaura people inhabit extremely high-altitude locations in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The Kinnaura are the largest ethnic group in the district that gives them their name—Kinnaur District. The Kinnaura inhabit villages between 5,000 and 6,770 metres (16,400 to 22,200 ft.) above sea level, in an area described as having "mountainous topography, cold climate, dense forests, low rainfall and heavy snowfall." The Kinnaura people comprise approximately 70 per cent of the total population in the Kinnaur District. Small pockets of Kinnaura also reportedly live in the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kanaura people make their living through agriculture, growing grain and raising livestock. It is difficult to do this at such a high elevation.


What Are Their Beliefs?

From a religious standpoint, the Kinnaura are an extremely interesting group. Their territory forms the border between the Buddhist and Hindu worlds, and accordingly the Kinnaura's religious belief is a fusion of the two. They acknowledge their strong links to Hinduism by claiming that they originated in the shadow of Lord Brahma. Another legend says that "they have sprung from the toe of Brahma along with the Yakshas." Hinduism has gained in popularity in the Kinnaur District in the past few generations, as thousands of Hindus have migrated into north Himachal Pradesh. Previously, Tibetan Buddhism held sway in these remote Himalayan regions. One source notes, 'Kinnaur is a place of curious coexistence of Hinduism and Mahayanist Buddhism. People embracing Buddhism belong to the Nyingmapa, Dukpa, Kargyutpa, and Gelukpa sects. On entering a Buddhist village, one finds a tomb and chorten in various [parts] of the village and also in individual houses, which are meant to ward off evil spirits." Many Kinnaura people do not see a conflict in their mixture of faith. If asked whether or not they believe in Hinduism they reply yes, and if asked if they follow Buddhism they also reply yes. Many celebrate both Buddhist and Hindu festivals. The Kinnaura also believe and practice animistic rituals in a bid to ward off evil spirits.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kanaura people need to put their hope in the King of kings, realizing that he is the one who gives them worth and dignity.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving workers to take the gospel message to the Kanaura community.

Pray the Lord will prepare the hearts of the Kanaura to understand and to believe the gospel.

Pray for the Lord to bless the Kanaura people with adequate education and medical facilities.

Pray for the Lord to bless the Kanaura people so abundantly that they will see he is the only one worthy of praise and worship.


Scripture Prayers for the Kanaura in India.


References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kanaura
People Name in Country Kanaura
Alternate Names Anuskad; Kanorin Skad; Kanorug Skadd; Kinnara; Kinnauri; Kinnaurse; Kinori; Koonawure; Lower Kinnauri; Melhesti; Milchan; Tibas Skad; Yanuskad; किंनौरा
Population this Country 60,000
Population all Countries 60,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12487
ROP3 Code 104558
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)
Location in Country More than 60,000 Kinnaura people inhabit extremely high altitude locations in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in Kinnaur District.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States on file 6
Largest States
Himachal Pradesh
59,000
Uttarakhand
700
Delhi
100
Maharashtra
60
Chandigarh
40
Rajasthan
10
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)
Location in Country More than 60,000 Kinnaura people inhabit extremely high altitude locations in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, in Kinnaur District..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States 6
  Himachal Pradesh 59,000
  Uttarakhand 700
  Delhi 100
  Maharashtra 60
  Chandigarh 40
  Rajasthan 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
33.23 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.07 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
66.47 %
Islam
0.11 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.08 %
Unknown
0.04 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kinnauri (36,000 speakers)
Language Code kfk   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 27
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Kinnauri, Bhoti
6,700
Shumcho
2,200
Jangshung
2,000
Pahari, Mahasu
1,900
Hindi
1,200
Kinnauri, Chitkuli
1,100
Kinnauri, Chhoyul
800
Sunam
600
Mugom-Karmarong
500
Bhattiyali
100
Pattani
100
Mandeali
80
Punjabi, Eastern
50
Gujarati
40
Nepali
40
Primary Language Kinnauri (36,000 speakers)
Language Code kfk   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 27
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Kinnauri, Bhoti 6,700
  Shumcho 2,200
  Jangshung 2,000
  Pahari, Mahasu 1,900
  Hindi 1,200
  Kinnauri, Chitkuli 1,100
  Kinnauri, Chhoyul 800
  Sunam 600
  Mugom-Karmarong 500
  Bhattiyali 100
  Pattani 100
  Mandeali 80
  Punjabi, Eastern 50
  Gujarati 40
  Nepali 40
People Groups Speaking Kinnauri
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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