Loi 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 Loi or Lois people of India live in the northeastern state of Manipur. They are an indigenous tribe whose name means "Scheduled Caste" in Meitei, the official language of Manipur. The use of the name Loi or Lois is controversial because these people see themselves as part of the larger population of Meitei people in Manipur. The Indian government has distinguished the Loi from the Meitei and has given the Loi the designation of Scheduled Caste. This category allows the government to give the Loi special consideration for public jobs and university admissions. Illiteracy is an issue for the Loi. The Indian government is working to educate the children of the Loi so that they can enter into modern society.

The Loi are at the bottom of the seven-leveled Manipur caste system. They are often not permitted entrance into Hindu temples. As a result the Loi have their priests and shrines. The primary language of the Loi is Meitei. Many also speak Assamese.


Where Are they Located?

The Loi people live in India's northeastern state of Manipur.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Loi are an agricultural people who live in rural villages. They wet farm rice as their main crop. They also grow palm trees for their oil and wood. They are vegetarians except for eating a special type of pungent fermented fish.

Loi marry within their group. Young people are allowed to choose their spouse but must get the approval of their families. Sons inherit their father's property. Village chiefs and elders settle legal problems and promote the interests of the Loi. Village shamans are the first persons the Loi see for spiritual and medical problems.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Loi practice their brand of Hinduism mixed with folk religion. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon, especially their supreme god and forest god. The Loi venerate their ancestors and feel they must placate the evil spirits that inhabit the natural world. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Loi visit their shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods.
Only a few Loi are Christian believers.


What Are Their Needs?

The Loi need help in educating their children. The Loi would benefit with access to modern medicine. They could also use help in learning new job skills. Most of all, the Loi need to hear and understand the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that the tiny group of Loi believers would be established in the faith and share the gospel with their brothers and sisters.
Pray for Loi families to be drawn to Jesus and to the Bible to find out more about the true God.
Pray for a movement to Jesus to multiply among Loi families and communities


Scripture Prayers for the Loi in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loi
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/93241/11/11_chapter%203.pdf


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Loi
People Name in Country Loi
Alternate Names Baloi; Lois; लो
Population this Country 97,000
Population all Countries 97,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 13089
ROP3 Code 105825
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
Manipur
97,000
Assam
50
Meghalaya
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)
Total States 3
  Manipur 97,000
  Assam 50
  Meghalaya 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.59 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.04 %
Unknown
0.33 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Meitei (86,000 speakers)
Language Code mni   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Assamese
Primary Language Meitei (86,000 speakers)
Language Code mni   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Assamese 10
People Groups Speaking Meitei

Primary Language:  Meitei

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1820-1995)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1827-2023)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1984-2022)
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 / Portions General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Meitei Jesus Film Project
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 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 Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Manipuri Bible Bibles International
Mobile App Android Bible app: Meitei YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Manipuri Bible General / Other
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Meitei YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Meitei Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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