Naga 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 Naga people come from Nagaland, a state in the extreme North East of India. It is believed that these hill-tribes of an Indo-Mongoloid stock have migrated from other countries of South-east Asia. There are 16 major tribes such as Angami, Ao, Chakhesang, Chang, Khemungan, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Pochury, Rengma, Sangtam, Sema, Yimchunger and Zeliang.

Each tribe has their own language and cultural features. They communicate in Nagamese which is a mixture of Assamese, Bengali, and Hindi. Hindi also is used in Nagaland. English is the state language in Nagaland. They use the Roman script, which was introduced by American missionaries. The organization of each village community differs from tribe to tribe. Most of the tribes have a democratic structure called village councils but the Konyak tribe has a village chief called 'Ahngs'.

Weaving is a traditional art handed down through generations in Nagaland. Each of the major tribes has its own unique design and choice of colours. Warm and colourful Naga shawls, hand-woven shoulder bags, decorative spears, tablemats, wood carvings and bamboo works make magnificent souvenirs. Tattooing was common in Naga culture but now this practice is slowly decreasing. Agriculture is their main occupation and rice is their staple food. The Naga tribes are exogamous in matters concerning marriage. Marriage between the same clan is strictly prohibited.

The Naga villages are located atop hills and every village has a 'Morung' or a meeting house where weapons and prizes of war are stored. Tribal dances belonging to distinctive tribes form the major art form in Nagaland. Each tribe celebrates their own festival such as Sekrenyi, Moatsu, Tuluni, Aoling and Tokhu Emong.

The early Naga were worshippers of nature gods but the advent of Christianity in the late 19th century brought a total transformation among the people. The spread of Christianity, the growth of education and the development programs have rapidly changed the Naga culture. There are political problems between the state government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) or the Naga under ground soldiers.


Prayer Points

For the salvation of the Naga people.
For the peace of Nagaland, for reconciliation between the factions and ease in political tensions.


Scripture Prayers for the Naga in India.


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

People Name General Naga
People Name in Country Naga
Alternate Names Pochury; नगा, अनस्पेसिफाइड
Population this Country 19,000
Population all Countries 19,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 3
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 17738
ROP3 Code 113196
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 15
Largest States
Arunachal Pradesh
6,400
Nagaland
4,800
West Bengal
3,100
Assam
1,600
Meghalaya
1,300
Mizoram
800
Maharashtra
400
Tripura
200
Delhi
90
Karnataka
70
Madhya Pradesh
70
Rajasthan
40
Tamil Nadu
30
Chhattisgarh
30
Kerala
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 15
  Arunachal Pradesh 6,400
  Nagaland 4,800
  West Bengal 3,100
  Assam 1,600
  Meghalaya 1,300
  Mizoram 800
  Maharashtra 400
  Tripura 200
  Delhi 90
  Karnataka 70
  Madhya Pradesh 70
  Rajasthan 40
  Tamil Nadu 30
  Chhattisgarh 30
  Kerala 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.61 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
76.84 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
4.40 %
Islam
0.68 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.08 %
Unknown
17.39 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nagamese (2,500 speakers)
Language Code nag   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Nagamese
Dialect Code 4154   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 61
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Naga, Tangshang: Tangsa
3,600
Bengali
1,000
Naga, Sumi
800
Mizo
700
Naga, Zeme
700
English
500
Naga, Ao
500
Naga, Lotha
500
Nyishi
400
Naga, Inpui: Naga, Kabui
400
Naga, Angami
300
Assamese
300
Naga, Mao
300
Naga, Chokri
300
Naga, Tangkhul (India)
200
Primary Language Nagamese (2,500 speakers)
Language Code nag   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Nagamese
Dialect Code 4154   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 61
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Naga, Tangshang: Tangsa 3,600
  Bengali 1,000
  Naga, Sumi 800
  Mizo 700
  Naga, Zeme 700
  English 500
  Naga, Ao 500
  Naga, Lotha 500
  Nyishi 400
  Naga, Inpui: Naga, Kabui 400
  Naga, Angami 300
  Assamese 300
  Naga, Mao 300
  Naga, Chokri 300
  Naga, Tangkhul (India) 200
People Groups Speaking Nagamese
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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