Kandra 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 Kandra or Kandara are a people group who live in east central India near rivers and the Indian Ocean. Their name means "tendon." They qualify as a scheduled caste, which gives them special preferences in public jobs and university admission. In a recent survey only 68% of men and 50% of Kandra women could read and write. Other Hindus see most Kandra as low class. Often the Kandra are denied entrance to Hindu temples. Brahmins priests do not offer their services to low class groups.

The main occupations of the Kandra are makers of bamboo items, fishing, security guards and landless agricultural workers.

The primary language of the Kandra is Odia. Some others speak Bengali and other regional languages.


Where Are they Located?

The large majority of the Kandra people live in the Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal. Smaller pockets of Kandra live in other Indian states.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The life of the typical Kandra family is not easy. Their traditional jobs of makers of inexpensive bamboo items and as farm workers on other castes' land have given way to becoming fishermen. Kandra men fish in the waters of the Bay of Bengal and in the rivers of Odisha and West Bengal states. When fishing is good, the Kandra can make ends meet. When fishing is bad, they starve. With little education, they will take any job that can bring money to their families. Illiteracy is a major problem. Unfortunately, many of their children do not attend school or attend school for at most a few years. Some Kandra men watch the property and land of higher castes as guards.

The Kandra are endogamous, that is they marry within their own group. Cousin marriages are popular. Sons inherit what little property that owned by their fathers. Their own priests conduct important life ceremonies like births, wedding and funerals as Brahmin priests refuse to associate with the Kandra.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Kandra are almost all Hindus. Hinduism is the ancient religion of India. The Kandra worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They give special attention to Vishnu, the preserver god. They offer food, flowers and incense at their shrines because they are often not allowed into Hindu temples. The goal of the Hindu is to escape the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth through the performance of rituals and good deeds.

The Kandra participate in the yearly Hindu holidays of Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the nine-day celebration of autumn.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kandra have many pressing needs. Most of all they need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see the love and mercy of Christ lived out before them by Christians. The Kandra need help in educating their children. They need job training so they can make a decent living.


Prayer Points

Pray for Kandra families to be drawn to Jesus and to the Bible to find out more about this man, Jesus.
Pray for discovery Bible studies to spread rapidly as they bless Kandra families and communities.
Pray the Lord will give the Kandra understanding and responsive hearts as they hear about the love of Christ.
Pray the Lord moves Christian workers to live among and reach out to the Kandra.


Scripture Prayers for the Kandra in India.


References

magazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/Sept2004/englishPdf/sociopolitical.pdf
http://news.desigoogly.com/blog/kandra-caste-definition/


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Kandra
People Name in Country Kandra
Alternate Names Kanda; Kandanara; Kandar; Kandara; Kodma; Kondara; Kondora; Kondra; Kundari; कंडरा
Population this Country 750,000
Population all Countries 750,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 15
PeopleID3 17219
ROP3 Code 112585
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 21
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Odisha
599,000
West Bengal
127,000
Chhattisgarh
9,400
Andhra Pradesh
6,000
Assam
3,300
Jharkhand
1,800
Tripura
1,000
Manipur
800
Uttar Pradesh
800
Maharashtra
400
Bihar
300
Andaman and Nicobar
200
Telangana
200
Delhi
200
Meghalaya
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 21  (only 20 largest shown)
  Odisha 599,000
  West Bengal 127,000
  Chhattisgarh 9,400
  Andhra Pradesh 6,000
  Assam 3,300
  Jharkhand 1,800
  Tripura 1,000
  Manipur 800
  Uttar Pradesh 800
  Maharashtra 400
  Bihar 300
  Andaman and Nicobar 200
  Telangana 200
  Delhi 200
  Meghalaya 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.09 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.14 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.77 %
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 (513,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bengali
127,000
Hindi
19,000
Telugu
3,100
Kuvi
1,400
Assamese
1,200
Chhattisgarhi
1,100
Santhali
300
Kui (India)
300
Ho
300
Mundari: Bhumij
300
Maithili
100
Desiya
100
Kurux
30
Kui, Dawik
30
Bhojpuri
Primary Language Odia (513,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bengali 127,000
  Hindi 19,000
  Telugu 3,100
  Kuvi 1,400
  Assamese 1,200
  Chhattisgarhi 1,100
  Santhali 300
  Kui (India) 300
  Ho 300
  Mundari: Bhumij 300
  Maithili 100
  Desiya 100
  Kurux 30
  Kui, Dawik 30
  Bhojpuri 10
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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Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Odia YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Odia (Oriya) / English Bible (AKJV) General / Other
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Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Odiya Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
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Mobile App iOS Bible app: Odia YouVersion Bibles
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Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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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