Panka 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 Panka community of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha have either scheduled caste or Sudra status. Both indicate low status in Hindu society. They have many gotras (clans) and other smaller groupings. Most use Panka as their surname, so everyone knows their community.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Panka are traditionally weavers, though they also grow crops, raise livestock and find food in the forests. They sell their woven goods in the markets. The less fortunate are day laborers.

Panka families are usually nuclear rather than extended. Younger members respect and even fear their family elders.

They prefer to marry their cousins, usually a father’s sister’s daughter or a mother’s brother’s daughter. They marry as adults, and the marriages are monogamous. They rarely divorce, but occasionally one partner will desert the other and marry someone else. They only do this if there are no children involved.

Panka women have many jobs including fishing, which is usually reserved for men. They also take care of the house, raise the children, care for livestock and cultivate their crops. Women have lower status than men and do not have the chance to make decisions regarding family property.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though the Panka are Hindu, they worship many household and regional gods. Within each gotra (clan) there are family gods that they worship hoping for protection and prosperity.


What Are Their Needs?

The Panka people need to put their faith and hope in the King of kings and Lord of lords.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Panka people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.

Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly.

Pray for the spiritual lives of Panka Christians to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Panka in India.


References

People of India, Vol 16. K.S. Singh. 2013


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Panka
People Name in Country Panka
Alternate Names Das; Das Panka; Kabir; Kabir Das Panka; Kotaar; Manikpuri; Panika; Pankha; Pankhiya; Parki; पंका
Population this Country 45,000
Population all Countries 45,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17835
ROP3 Code 113309
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
Uttar Pradesh
37,000
Odisha
7,000
Maharashtra
70
Uttarakhand
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 4
  Uttar Pradesh 37,000
  Odisha 7,000
  Maharashtra 70
  Uttarakhand 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.09 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.91 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (34,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Odia
6,000
Bhojpuri
3,500
Desiya
300
Kanauji
200
Garhwali
20
Primary Language Hindi (34,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Odia 6,000
  Bhojpuri 3,500
  Desiya 300
  Kanauji 200
  Garhwali 20
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Hindi) Scripture Earth
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Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download (Hindi) SIL
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Mobile App Android Bible App: Hindi Bible (हिंदी बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Word General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sab Ki Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: पवित्र बाइबिल Hindi Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Hindi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta (Bible training) General / Other
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Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi Unlocked Literal Bible Kalaam Media Ltd
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Hindi Bible General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi Literacy & Evangelism International
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 (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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