Mahadev Koli 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 Koli people are also called Dongar or Raj Koli. Generally Koli means a fisherman but the Koli people's primary occupation is agriculture. The Mahadev Koli derive their name from their god Mahadev and live in the Mahadev hills of Maharashtra.

They are found mostly in the Pune, Ahmednagar and Nasik districts of Maharashtra. They speak Marathi and use the Devanagari script. There are twenty-four exogamous clans among the Mahadev Koli and they use their clan's names as their surnames.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Their staple food consists of rice, nagli, varai and wheat. Other than agriculture they are also involved in cattle production, dairy and poultry farming and wage labour as subsidiary occupations.

They resemble the Kunbi and the Maratha communities in matters of dress and appearance. They live in nuclear families. Bride price plays an important part in marriage. The marriage ceremony lasts for three to four days. They allow for divorce and remarriage. They bury their dead, but in some cases they cremate.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Mahadev Koli follow a number of Hindu traditions. Members of each clan have their own deity.


What Are Their Needs?

The Mahadev Koli people need the opportunity to allow Jesus Christ to enrich their lives physically, economically and spiritually. Some Mahadev Koli villages are without electricity. Solar panels would greatly improve their lives. They often lack access to clean water and modern medicine. The Mahadev Koli must hear and understand the message about Jesus Christ to have their sins forgiven and to obtain eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray for a movement to Christ among the Mahadev Koli community.

Pray for more literacy and development programs and better schools.

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive them to Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Koli Mahadev in India.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Koli Mahadev
People Name in Country Koli Mahadev
Natural Name Mahadev Koli
Pronunciation mah-HAH-dev KOH-lee
Alternate Names Dongar; Dongar Koli; Maahadev; Mahadeo; Mahadew; Maideo; Raj Koli; कोली महादेव
Population this Country 1,888,000
Population all Countries 1,917,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 38
PeopleID3 17210
ROP3 Code 112576
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 22
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Maharashtra
1,687,000
Gujarat
106,000
Karnataka
34,000
Madhya Pradesh
27,000
Rajasthan
7,600
Odisha
7,300
Telangana
6,700
Goa
4,500
Tamil Nadu
2,700
Andhra Pradesh
900
Chhattisgarh
900
Uttar Pradesh
800
Delhi
700
Kerala
500
Dadra and Nagar Have
300
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 22  (only 20 largest shown)
  Maharashtra 1,687,000
  Gujarat 106,000
  Karnataka 34,000
  Madhya Pradesh 27,000
  Rajasthan 7,600
  Odisha 7,300
  Telangana 6,700
  Goa 4,500
  Tamil Nadu 2,700
  Andhra Pradesh 900
  Chhattisgarh 900
  Uttar Pradesh 800
  Delhi 700
  Kerala 500
  Dadra and Nagar Have 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.19 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.07 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.37 %
Islam
0.20 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.03 %
Unknown
0.15 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Marathi (1,411,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 43
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Gujarati
85,000
Kannada
40,000
Konkani, Goan
21,000
Hindi
20,000
Konkani
19,000
Telugu
15,000
Ahirani
8,000
Odia
5,700
Bhili
5,700
Khandesi
3,000
Nimadi
600
Urdu
300
Sindhi
300
Gondi, Northern
300
Wagdi
200
Primary Language Marathi (1,411,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 43
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Gujarati 85,000
  Kannada 40,000
  Konkani, Goan 21,000
  Hindi 20,000
  Konkani 19,000
  Telugu 15,000
  Ahirani 8,000
  Odia 5,700
  Bhili 5,700
  Khandesi 3,000
  Nimadi 600
  Urdu 300
  Sindhi 300
  Gondi, Northern 300
  Wagdi 200
People Groups Speaking Marathi

Primary Language:  Marathi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1807-1957)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1982)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1821-2024)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
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Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Marathi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
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Mobile App Android Bible App: Marathi Bible (मराठी बायबल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Marathi Contemporary Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Marathi Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Marathi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
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Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Marathi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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