Alambadi Kurichchan 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.

Subgroups: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Anchilla Kurichchan 1,800

Introduction / History

The Kurichiya live in the forested areas of Kerala state, southern India, where they were the earliest known inhabitants. They are primarily located in the Cannanore and Tamil Nadu districts. Their language is called Kurichiya, although many also speak Malayalam. It is said that their name comes from the word kuri, which is the sandalwood that they put on their foreheads and chests.

The Kurichiya were the first migrants into the Wayanad hills and settled as the first farmers of the western region. When the Muslims and the British came into their area, the Kurichiya rose against them in revolt. Unfortunately, they were defeated by the strong arm of the British.

In India, there is a very complex hierarchy of castes, or social classes. This system is extremely important to the Indians and observed by all. However, the Kurichiya consider themselves to be above even the highest caste of Hindi Brahmin (priests and scholars).


What Are Their Lives Like?

On their small patches of land, the Kurichiya raise peppers and several other cash crops. Although they are primarily farmers, they are also expert archers and eat meat in addition to the crops they grow. Some must work on land provided by the government, while others are forced to make their living by cutting and selling wood from the forest.

The Kurichiya claim to be superior to all of the other Hindu castes. This is partially due to the fact that there are no beggars among them; their society does not tolerate the destitution of any of its members. Because they live in large family groups, it has always been possible for a poor Kurichiya to find food and shelter.

A typical Kurichiya would surprise even a casual observer with the strength of his convictions. The Kurichiya are so concerned with keeping themselves pure that they will burn their huts, if touched by outsiders. On returning from a journey, they will not enter their homes until they have purified themselves by bathing. They will neither eat food nor drink water that has been touched by non-Kurichiya. When visiting neighboring villages, they refrain from eating. Those who break dietary laws become outcasts.

One of the most powerful members of the Kurichiya tribe is the sorcerer, who is also the village headman. He is elected during a ritual performed before their idols. When someone in the group goes into a trance and does a frenzied dance, the Kurichiya believe that this is a sign that the gods have chosen this individual to be their leader. This person then assumes responsibility over the tribe by wearing the silver-handled knife (that was worn by his predecessor), on his waist.

One striking trait of the Kurichiya is the fact that they were traditionally a matriarchal (female-dominated) society. They are the only Indian community outside the province of Assam that has continued to follow this type of system, even as recently as 1970. Their society survived because of their deep-rooted conservatism, as well as, their isolation in the Wayanad plateau.

The Kurichiya share many traits with other tribes of their area. These include the traditional fore-lock of hair, their house patterns, ornaments, style of presenting offerings, observance of shamanism (a type of spiritism), and kinship terminology.


What Are Their Beliefs?

No group in India can equal the Kurichiya in devotion to their faith. The Kurichiya are Hindus and their supreme deity is, Shiva, "god of the hunt." They worship a variety of gods and demons in addition to their own tribal gods. While their faith may be as deep as that of the Brahmins, their rituals are much simpler.


What Are Their Needs?

Additional missionaries are needed to live and work among the Kurichiya. This people group must be told that righteousness comes only through Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Ask God to call forth prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies focusing on the Kurichiya.
Pray that the Lord will raise up long term workers to join the few who have already responded.
Ask the Holy Spirit to complete the work begun in the hearts of the few known Kurichiya believers through adequate discipleship.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a vigorous Kurichiya church for the glory of His name!


Scripture Prayers for the Alambadi Kurichchan in India.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Alambadi Kurichchan
People Name in Country Alambadi Kurichchan
Alternate Names Kunjidagar; Kunjidigar; Kunjigar; Kuricchiyan; Kurichcha Gounder; Kurichchan; Kurichchian; Kurichechan; Kurichian; Pathirikurichian; Patiri; Tacchanadan Moopan; आलमबदी कूरिच्छन
Population this Country 49,000
Population all Countries 49,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17333
ROP3 Code 112716
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 6
Largest States
Kerala
40,000
Tamil Nadu
6,900
Karnataka
1,600
Puducherry
400
Delhi
100
Andhra Pradesh
40
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 6
  Kerala 40,000
  Tamil Nadu 6,900
  Karnataka 1,600
  Puducherry 400
  Delhi 100
  Andhra Pradesh 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
4.61 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
95.09 %
Islam
0.15 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.13 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kurichiya (39,000 speakers)
Language Code kfh   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Malayalam
2,500
Tamil
800
Kannada
400
Konkani, Goan
300
Tulu
200
Telugu
100
Konkani
Primary Language Kurichiya (39,000 speakers)
Language Code kfh   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Malayalam 2,500
  Tamil 800
  Kannada 400
  Konkani, Goan 300
  Tulu 200
  Telugu 100
  Konkani 0
People Groups Speaking Kurichiya

Primary Language:  Kurichiya

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Started

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Philipose Vaidyar  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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