Kolta 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 Kolta community is distributed in the Balangir, Sambalpur and Sundargarh districts of Odisha. There are a number of clans among the Kolta such as Balabhadra, Kashyapa, Bharadwaj and Ganesh. They use surnames such as Bhoi, Biswal, Padhan, Sahu and Samal.

The Kolta speak the Odia language and use the Oriya script. They are also conversant with Hindi and Bengali.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kolta are a land owning community who are mainly engaged in cultivation, cattle and goat rearing. Rice is their staple cereal. Some of them are teachers, engineers and doctors.

They perform marriage rituals at the bride's home. The Kolta allow for divorce and remarriage. They cremate their dead. The eldest son inherits authority in the family when the father dies.

They play musical instruments like dhole or drum, ektara (a string instrument) and the flute.

Social control is exercised by the community councils such as the Jati Sabha and Mahasabha.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Koltas profess Hinduism and worship Ganesh, Lakshmi, Samaleswari, Patneswari and other deities. They observe the Chait Parab, Makara and Nuakhia festivals. They share the same religious shrines with other communities.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kolta people need to put their hope in the King of kings, realizing that he is the one who gives them worth and dignity.


Prayer Points

Pray for the salvation of the Kolta people and that God may send many loving Christian workers to work among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.

Pray for the Christian media to reach and touch them through their regional forms and language.


Scripture Prayers for the Kolta in India.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kolta
People Name in Country Kolta
Pronunciation KOHL-tah
Alternate Names Caulota; Kasbi; Kasbi Khelna; Khelda; Khelna; Khelta; Kolota; Kuta; Kutamali; कोल्टा
Population this Country 755,000
Population all Countries 755,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 15
PeopleID3 17251
ROP3 Code 112619
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)
Odisha
509,000
Chhattisgarh
196,000
Uttar Pradesh
21,000
Madhya Pradesh
20,000
Andhra Pradesh
4,200
Assam
2,300
Jharkhand
900
West Bengal
900
Delhi
500
Manipur
300
Uttarakhand
200
Maharashtra
100
Rajasthan
90
Bihar
60
Tripura
30
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
  Odisha 509,000
  Chhattisgarh 196,000
  Uttar Pradesh 21,000
  Madhya Pradesh 20,000
  Andhra Pradesh 4,200
  Assam 2,300
  Jharkhand 900
  West Bengal 900
  Delhi 500
  Manipur 300
  Uttarakhand 200
  Maharashtra 100
  Rajasthan 90
  Bihar 60
  Tripura 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.12 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.87 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.01 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Odia (487,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Chhattisgarhi
96,000
Hindi
73,000
Bengali
4,800
Kui (India)
3,100
Malvi
2,200
Telugu
1,700
Assamese
900
Kurux
500
Munda
300
Koda
300
Garhwali
100
Kuvi
80
Pengo
80
Santhali
60
Ho
60
Primary Language Odia (487,000 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Chhattisgarhi 96,000
  Hindi 73,000
  Bengali 4,800
  Kui (India) 3,100
  Malvi 2,200
  Telugu 1,700
  Assamese 900
  Kurux 500
  Munda 300
  Koda 300
  Garhwali 100
  Kuvi 80
  Pengo 80
  Santhali 60
  Ho 60
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)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
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
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
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 Jesus Film: view in Odia Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Oriya) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
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 Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024