Bhumij 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.

Subgroups: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Desau 7,100

Introduction / History

The Bhumij are one of nine Munda subgroups in India. Bhumij means "children of the soil." Tribal culture among the Bhumij and the other Munda people groups is quickly changing under the impact of external influences such as industrialization, new communication links, tribal welfare schemes, and community development projects. They reside primarily in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand. Their native language is Bhumij, a dialect of Mundari.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Bhumij depend on farming for survival. Many also engage in fishing and hunting. Rice is their staple food throughout the year. Sex before marriage is not taboo among the Bhumij and they also practice polygamy, the marriage of one many with multiple women.


What Are Their Beliefs?

 The Bhumij follow a mixture of Hinduism and ethnic religious beliefs. Their supreme god is the sun god, but they also worship many of the Hindu deities and tribal gods. They have a firm belief in an almighty creator and also "mother earth."


What Are Their Needs?

 Only a very few Bhumij have accepted Christ. Most have yet to hear and receive the gospel of salvation. Because they are faithful to their family and tribe/village, a church planting movement is very possible if Bhumij elders accept Christ's ambassadors. Once a few key Bhumij submit to the Lord, many others will follow.


Prayer Points

Pray for Bhumij elders to open the door for Christ's servants to take the gospel to them.
Ask the Lord to raise up a triumphant church plating movement among each Bhumij tribe for the glory of his name.
Pray for spiritual discernment and hunger among the Bhumij people, and that they will find their answers in Jesus.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhumij in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bhumij
People Name in Country Bhumij
Alternate Names Bhumij Desua; Bhumija; Bhumjia; Chai Bin; Desua Bhumij; Kisan-Bhumij; भूमीज़
Population this Country 1,262,000
Population all Countries 1,297,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 25
PeopleID3 16447
ROP3 Code 111603
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 16
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
424,000
Odisha
320,000
Assam
259,000
Jharkhand
237,000
Tripura
14,000
Bihar
3,600
Arunachal Pradesh
2,000
Andaman and Nicobar
1,700
Manipur
600
Delhi
500
Maharashtra
100
Meghalaya
100
Chhattisgarh
60
Madhya Pradesh
40
Andhra Pradesh
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 16
  West Bengal 424,000
  Odisha 320,000
  Assam 259,000
  Jharkhand 237,000
  Tripura 14,000
  Bihar 3,600
  Arunachal Pradesh 2,000
  Andaman and Nicobar 1,700
  Manipur 600
  Delhi 500
  Maharashtra 100
  Meghalaya 100
  Chhattisgarh 60
  Madhya Pradesh 40
  Andhra Pradesh 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.01 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
91.31 %
Islam
0.15 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
7.52 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (557,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 62
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Assamese
173,000
Odia
154,000
Mundari
152,000
Santhali
18,000
Ho
17,000
Hindi
17,000
Sadri
13,000
Munda
9,400
Oriya, Adivasi
2,600
Maithili
2,000
Kuvi
1,600
Bhunjia
600
Kudmali
600
Bhojpuri
300
Kok Borok
300
Primary Language Bengali (557,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 62
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Assamese 173,000
  Odia 154,000
  Mundari 152,000
  Santhali 18,000
  Ho 17,000
  Hindi 17,000
  Sadri 13,000
  Munda 9,400
  Oriya, Adivasi 2,600
  Maithili 2,000
  Kuvi 1,600
  Bhunjia 600
  Kudmali 600
  Bhojpuri 300
  Kok Borok 300
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

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Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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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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