Dimasa Kachari 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 Kachari Dimasa are a tribal Indo-Mongolian people who live in northeast India. For a thousand years before the British colonial period, they maintained a small kingdom in the lands of the modern states of Assam and Nagaland. The Kachari Dimasa originally came from the southern foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. They left the mountains in search of of better farmland and to avoid warfare.

The name Kachari Dimasa means "children of the great river," the Brahmaputra River. They build their villages near rivers and large streams. The villages consist of from thirty to four hundred buildings made of bamboo and thatch. A tribal chief, a Khunang, has both executive and judicial powers.

The primary occupation of the Kachari Dimasa is farming. At the start of the planting season, they dedicate their rice paddies to their supreme god Madai who is associated with Vishnu or Shiva. They also make bamboo products for sale and raise various kinds of domestic animals.

The main language of the Kachari Dimasa is Deori, also called Dimasa. They also speak Hindi and other languages to communicate with other peoples.


Where Are they Located?

The vast majority of the Kachari Dimasa live in the northeast Indian state of Assam. Others live in Nagaland and other regions of India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lives of the Kachari Dimasa revolve around the wet and dry seasons of the Indian subcontinent. In addition to rice, cotton and mustard, they also grow vegetables and fruits for consumption and for sale. The eat meat except for beef.

Sons inherit land and real estate while the daughters inherit their mother's possessions and cooking utensils. Young people cannot marry within their clan or village. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young persons. Young couples live with or near the groom's parents.

Dancing and instrumental music make up a big part of the Dimasa culture. Men, women, boys and girls all dance and sing at important life rituals and holidays.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kachari Dimasa practice their version of Hinduism. Like other Hindus, they believe in the reincarnation of the soul after death. They do not use Brahmin priests in their ceremonies. They have their own priests. Evil spirits are responsible for disease, calamities and suffering. They cremate their dead near a river.

The Kachari Dimasa celebrate festivals different from mainstream Hinduism.

Their main holiday is Bushu, celebrated at the completion of the harvest in late January for a period of ten to twelve days. The participants eat large communal feasts and drink rice beer. Athletic games and parades occur during the days while dancing, singing and music occur at night. People wear traditional clothing and ornaments.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kachari Dimasa need to hear the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need a Bible in their language because one does not exist. They must see that Biblical Christianity is vastly superior to the traditional religion. They must see themselves as sinners in need of a Savior.


Prayer Points

Pray that the few Dimasa who are Christians receive training and share the gospel with their brothers and sisters
Pray a Bible is translated into the Dimasa language.
Pray that Lord would move Indian Christians to live among the Dimasa and show them the love and mercy of Christ.
Pray that God raises up a disciple-making movement among the Kachari Dimasa people.


Scripture Prayers for the Kachari Dimasa in India.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimasa_people
indianetzone.com/10/dimasa(_tribe_assam).htm
tourmyindia.com/states/nagaland/bushu-festival.html


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Kachari Dimasa
People Name in Country Kachari Dimasa
Natural Name Dimasa Kachari
Alternate Names Bodo Kacari; Boro; Dimasa; कचारी, दिमासा
Population this Country 164,000
Population all Countries 177,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 17130
ROP3 Code 112479
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
Assam
138,000
Nagaland
15,000
Meghalaya
5,100
West Bengal
4,000
Arunachal Pradesh
1,500
Andhra Pradesh
300
Mizoram
100
Tripura
100
Delhi
70
Manipur
40
Rajasthan
20
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
  Assam 138,000
  Nagaland 15,000
  Meghalaya 5,100
  West Bengal 4,000
  Arunachal Pradesh 1,500
  Andhra Pradesh 300
  Mizoram 100
  Tripura 100
  Delhi 70
  Manipur 40
  Rajasthan 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.17 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
6.06 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
93.08 %
Islam
0.15 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.53 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Dimasa (117,000 speakers)
Language Code dis   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 54
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Boro (India)
11,000
Assamese
5,500
Bengali
3,600
Karbi
2,800
Khasi
2,600
Hindi
600
Kachari
500
Naga, Ao
500
Naga, Lotha
300
Mizo
100
Koch
100
Garo
100
Nepali
70
Naga, Chang
70
Chin, Thado
50
Primary Language Dimasa (117,000 speakers)
Language Code dis   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 54
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Boro (India) 11,000
  Assamese 5,500
  Bengali 3,600
  Karbi 2,800
  Khasi 2,600
  Hindi 600
  Kachari 500
  Naga, Ao 500
  Naga, Lotha 300
  Mizo 100
  Koch 100
  Garo 100
  Nepali 70
  Naga, Chang 70
  Chin, Thado 50
People Groups Speaking Dimasa

Primary Language:  Dimasa

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1905-1908)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2005)
Bible-Complete No
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
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Dimasa Jesus Film Project
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Dimasa YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Dimasa YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Dimasa Literacy & Evangelism International
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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