Golla 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 word "Golla" is derived from the Sanskrit word, "Gopal" which means keeper of cows. They are known by different names such as Yadav and Patra in Odisha. There are also other occupational subgroups such as Nunia, Haldia, Panera, Chelia and Kondar among others. They have other names such as Yadav, Ahir, Gop, Ashtandra, Monda, Pedditi, Yerra, and Mon.
Their speak Telugu but they are also conversant in Hindi and other regional languages. The Golla people are spread out different states of India, but they primarily live in Odisha.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Golla are landowners and a community that rears sheep and goats. Child labor is prevalent among the Golla. Women are involved in agriculture and animal husbandry. The women are very good in tattooing and sing folk songs.
The men folk participate in folk-dramas. They also perform holding red hot iron balls in their mouths, hot iron plates in their hands and swallowing long knives. The Golla Pedditi performs magic in the villages and receives grain and money in return.
Bride price is a prevalent practice before a wedding. The women wear vermilion, a thali and toe rings as symbols of marriage. They have a naming ceremony on the twenty-first day after a baby is born. They have a purification ceremony on the tenth day after someone dies.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They worship Krishna. They also have village deities such as Mangala, Thakurani Rajamma and Korallama. They celebrate festivals like Dol Purnima, Rathjathra, Ganesh Puja and Lakshmi Puja. The Golla worship their agricultural implements during the major festivals. The dead are buried, and they observe death pollution for eleven days.


What Are Their Needs?

Living primarily in Odisha where there is a weak gospel witness, and having few if any Christians among them, the Golla people will need outsiders to come as Christ bearers.


Prayer Points

Pray that God may send many Christian workers among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.
Pray that the Golla people may be freed from the practices of magic, child labor and other social evils.
Pray that the Golla community will be uplifted and empowered to live a dignified life through education.


Scripture Prayers for the Golla in India.


References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Golla
People Name in Country Golla
Alternate Names Gulla; Yadav; गोल्ला
Population this Country 155,000
Population all Countries 155,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 16852
ROP3 Code 112134
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 2
Largest States
Odisha
155,000
Delhi
100
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 2
  Odisha 155,000
  Delhi 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Odia (132,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Telugu
2,700
Hindi
1,100
Kui (India)
800
Kui, Dawik
400
Kurux
300
Santhali
40
Primary Language Odia (132,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Telugu 2,700
  Hindi 1,100
  Kui (India) 800
  Kui, Dawik 400
  Kurux 300
  Santhali 40
People Groups Speaking Odia

Primary Language:  Odia

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1809-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1815-2021)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Odia Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
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General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Oriya) Scripture Earth
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General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Odia YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Odia (Oriya) / English Bible (AKJV) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible App: Odiya Bible (ଓଡିଆ ବାଇବେଲ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Oriya Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Odiya Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Odia YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Odiya Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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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