Navait 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

Dwelling in coastal communities along India's southern shores, some Navait (also known as Nawayath) people are thought to perhaps be descended from Iraqi traders who fled from persecution many years ago. Others believe the Navait descended from Saudi migrants more than 1000 years ago, from ancient Yemeni sailors, or have blood ties to Persian merchants. Even their current coastal locations spanning beyond India into Pakistan and Sri Lanka attest to the scattering. In any case, the Navait have a connection to an ancient Arab diaspora, clearly shown by their skin, their surnames, their language, and their religion, Sunni Islam.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They work mainly in business. Some work for the government. They are educated and use modern medicine. They usually marry their cousins. Marriages are arranged by family leaders. Sons and daughters both inherit the property when the father has died. They bury their dead. They have an association to look after welfare and marriage and divorce matters.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Nawaiyat are Sunni Muslims.


What Are Their Needs?

The Navait people need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit which will lead to spiritual and social blessings in Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray for intercessors and workers to go to them. Pray that God will give them dreams and visions leading them to begin their own disciple making movement. Pray that gospel materials will become easily available. Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead them to Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Navait in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Navait
People Name in Country Navait
Alternate Names Bhatkali; Navakar; Navayat; Navyat; Nawaiyar; Nawaiyat; Nawayat; Nayat; Nevayat; Novoyat; Saudagar; नवैत
Population this Country 64,000
Population all Countries 81,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17767
ROP3 Code 113228
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
Kerala
27,000
Tamil Nadu
23,000
Karnataka
14,000
Delhi
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 4
  Kerala 27,000
  Tamil Nadu 23,000
  Karnataka 14,000
  Delhi 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Konkani (31,000 speakers)
Language Code knn   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Tamil
11,000
Malayalam
8,300
Konkani, Goan
4,900
Kannada
2,200
Urdu
300
Primary Language Konkani (31,000 speakers)
Language Code knn   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 11,000
  Malayalam 8,300
  Konkani, Goan 4,900
  Kannada 2,200
  Urdu 300
People Groups Speaking Konkani
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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