Mishmi 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

Mishmi is a tribe in Arunachal Pradesh which lives in the weakest economic conditions.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The main economic resources of the Mishmis are land and forests. They are primarily farmers. One of the traditional occupations of the Mishmis is weaving, which also involves them in trading in order to sell what they make. Mishmis also produce shawls, blouses, jackets, bamboo baskets, skirts, coats, bags and bead necklaces. Mishmis are non-vegetarians. Men and children consume pork, beef and all other kinds of meat available. However, the women eat only small birds and fish. Their houses are made of bamboo and the roof is thatched with long grass. The peculiarity of these houses is that they are made on pillars and the basement of the house is used for keeping pigs and hens.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Mishmis belong to hereditary shamanism. The most important characteristics are the complex system of belief in the spiritual qualities of nature and the concept of one Supreme Being. Donyi-polo the sun and the moon are regarded as the symbol of eternal truth.

Animals like mithun and pigs are sacrificed for a number of rituals and pujas during festivals. They have pre and post delivery rituals. They believe in some malevolent and benevolent spirits. Mishmis are the followers of the animistic Donyi-polo faith, known as Phong kelum, with some Buddhist influence, notably in their rites.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Mishmi in India.


Profile Source:   India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Mishmi
People Name in Country Mishmi
Pronunciation MISH-mee
Alternate Names Megho-Mishmi; Miza-Mishmi; मिश्मी
Population this Country 27,000
Population all Countries 27,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17565
ROP3 Code 112991
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 4
Largest States
Arunachal Pradesh
24,000
Assam
3,500
Manipur
70
Rajasthan
10
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 4
  Arunachal Pradesh 24,000
  Assam 3,500
  Manipur 70
  Rajasthan 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Unknown
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
3.49 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
4.98 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
29.08 %
Islam
0.41 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.06 %
Unknown
61.98 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Digaro-Mishmi (3,200 speakers)
Language Code mhu   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
Hindi
200
Mizo
100
Adi
100
Assamese
60
Nepali
30
Nyishi
30
Bengali Naga, Tangshang Santhali
Odia Naga, Nocte Maithili
Apatani Tagin
Primary Language Digaro-Mishmi (3,200 speakers)
Language Code mhu   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 200
  Mizo 100
  Adi 100
  Assamese 60
  Nepali 30
  Nyishi 30
  Bengali 10
  Naga, Tangshang 10
  Santhali 10
  Odia 10
  Naga, Nocte 0
  Maithili 0
  Apatani 0
  Tagin 0
People Groups Speaking Digaro-Mishmi
Photo Source Vaivhav Todi 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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