Agariya (Hindu traditions) 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 Agariya are one of the nine Munda-Santal tribes. Traditions regarding the origin of the Munda-Santal tribes are uncertain; but originally, a forested area of Chotanagpur (in eastern India) was ruled by chiefs of various tribes. Gradually, the British established their authority in the plains. The British colonialists had partial control over these tribes at that point. The Agariya name comes from the Hindi word for fire. For generations, they worked with furnaces as iron-smelters.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today, the Agarias continue to work with metal. They manufacture agricultural tools such as axes, ploughshares and sickles. Many have turned to farming and raising livestock. Others specialize in making toys such as wooden masks for children. Their children begin working at an early age. Consequently, only 10 percent of the Agaria people are literate. Of late, however, education has taken on a more important role, and parents are making efforts to send their children to school. In 1950, the Indian Constitution granted caste-related privileges to the Agarias. The law established quotas in government jobs and higher education. Affirmative action created development programs. Nonetheless, some Agaria people have been prey to money-lenders and have not been able to afford amenities such as electricity. Munda-Santal tribes like the Agariyas are divided into clans who recognize a common ancestor. The clans often marry those who are from other tribes; however, there are smaller sub-tribes who are permitted to marry only those within their group. There is also a bachelor's dormitory, dhumkuria, in all Munda-Santal groups except the Juango. Tribal culture among the Agariya and other Munda-Santal tribes is quickly changing under the impact of industrialization, new communication links, tribal welfare schemes, and community development projects.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Hinduism is the official religion of the Agariyas, and Dulha Deo is the family god. They revere cattle. This tribe worships a sun god, "mother earth," and also a god of creation. On special days they will worship cultivation tools and swords. Agariyas often have a spiritual guide who whispers to them a sacred verse and is available for consultation.


What Are Their Needs?

The precious Agariya tribe is ripe unto harvest; they simply need people to show them the way back to the True God. Who will go?


Prayer Points

Pray that God will send culturally sensitive missionaries who will show them the way to the cross. Pray for a Christ-ward movement to flourish among this people group in the 2020s. Pray for the Agariya people to be blessed with peace, joy and spiritual prosperity as they follow Jesus Christ. Pray for the Lord to protect them from those who wish to exploit them economically.


Scripture Prayers for the Agariya (Hindu traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Agariya (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Agariya (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation ah-gah-ree-YAH
Alternate Names Agar; Agaria; Agariya; Agharia; Agheria; Aghria; Godduka Patharia; Kelha Agaria; Khunti Chok; Lohar; Mahali Asur Agaria; Patharia; अगारिया (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 235,000
Population all Countries 235,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
PeopleID3 16174
ROP3 Code 111276
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 11
Largest States
Chhattisgarh
77,000
Odisha
59,000
Madhya Pradesh
46,000
Uttar Pradesh
26,000
Jharkhand
19,000
Uttarakhand
3,700
Delhi
3,100
West Bengal
1,300
Rajasthan
200
Maharashtra
200
Haryana
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 11
  Chhattisgarh 77,000
  Odisha 59,000
  Madhya Pradesh 46,000
  Uttar Pradesh 26,000
  Jharkhand 19,000
  Uttarakhand 3,700
  Delhi 3,100
  West Bengal 1,300
  Rajasthan 200
  Maharashtra 200
  Haryana 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.29 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.60 %
Islam
0.08 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
1.02 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Agariya (70,000 speakers)
Language Code agi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 37
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
66,000
Odia
30,000
Chhattisgarhi
21,000
Sadri
4,400
Kui (India)
2,300
Bhojpuri
1,800
Gondi, Northern
1,800
Bengali
1,400
Garhwali
800
Bagheli
500
Magahi
500
Bhili
300
Kurux
300
Ho
200
Awadhi
90
Primary Language Agariya (70,000 speakers)
Language Code agi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 37
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 66,000
  Odia 30,000
  Chhattisgarhi 21,000
  Sadri 4,400
  Kui (India) 2,300
  Bhojpuri 1,800
  Gondi, Northern 1,800
  Bengali 1,400
  Garhwali 800
  Bagheli 500
  Magahi 500
  Bhili 300
  Kurux 300
  Ho 200
  Awadhi 90
People Groups Speaking Agariya

Primary Language:  Agariya

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Malcolm P Chapman - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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