Paravan (Hindu traditions) 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 Paravan are a sea people who live along the coast of South India and Sir Lanka. Since ancient times, they have been involved in sea trade, boat building and fishing. Devout, educated Hindus considered these jobs to be degrading so they placed the Paravan outside the Hindu caste system. The Paravan have been primarily an oral culture since reading and writing were unnecessary for their occupations.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For hundreds of years the Paravan of South India have made their living from the sea. They have dived for pearls, collected shells, fished, and made salt for their living. They have moved goods in their boats and made boats and fishing nets for sale. When fishing was poor, the Paravan were in danger of starvation. The public educational system of India gives the Paravan children the opportunity to gain literacy and improve their economic situation. Still many Paravan children leave school after a few years in order to help their parents provide for the family. If the Paravan do graduate from secondary school, they will be able to participate in a growing Indian economy. These man industries of India include tourism, the export of tea, textiles, computer science, and telecommunication. Paravan parents strongly encourage their children to marry within their group. Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Paravan practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Paravan visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hope of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do with their heavenly Father. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Paravan people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Paravan children need to be in school and to gain literacy skills to help their families. Adult Paravan would benefit from learning new job skills. The Paravan must understand that Jesus is more than another Hindu god or guru. He is the Son of the one, true God of the Bible. Only through Christ can their sins be forgiven.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord of the harvest sends workers to the Paravan in India to tell them the good news. Pray that Paravan parents can provide for the needs of their children. Ask the Lord to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among the Paravan in this decade. Pray for a spiritual hunger among the Paravan community leaders. Pray for many showings of the Tamil JESUS Film in Paravan areas.


Scripture Prayers for the Paravan (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paravar


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Paravan (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Paravan (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names Barathar; Chuna Parava; Chunna Paravan; Cunnambu; Hindu Parava; Kurup; Latin Catholic; Latin Catholics; Minavar; Minparavan; Nurunkurup; Paradavan; Parava; Paravar; Varakurup; परवान
Population this Country 98,000
Population all Countries 100,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 6  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 17846
ROP3 Code 113320
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 10
Largest States
Kerala
67,000
Tamil Nadu
26,000
Karnataka
4,000
Andhra Pradesh
1,400
Uttar Pradesh
200
Puducherry
200
Delhi
200
Telangana
100
Rajasthan
80
Maharashtra
50
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 10
  Kerala 67,000
  Tamil Nadu 26,000
  Karnataka 4,000
  Andhra Pradesh 1,400
  Uttar Pradesh 200
  Puducherry 200
  Delhi 200
  Telangana 100
  Rajasthan 80
  Maharashtra 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.20 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.11 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.68 %
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 Malayalam (61,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Tamil
24,000
Kannada
1,300
Tulu
500
English
200
Telugu
200
Primary Language Malayalam (61,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Tamil 24,000
  Kannada 1,300
  Tulu 500
  English 200
  Telugu 200
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malayalam Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Binoy Chacko Audio Bible (Malayalam) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Malayalam YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Malayalam Bible (മലയാളം ബൈബിള്‍) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Malayalam Bible (മലയാളം ബൈബിൾ) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Bible app: Malayalam Contemporary Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Malayalam Gospel Films (മലയാളം ഗോസ്പൽ ഫിലിംസ്) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Bible app: Malayalam Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Mar Thoma Church Great Lenten Lectionary Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Malayalam Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Malayalam Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Rafa Bible Radio Malayalam General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Anish Thankachan Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Avan Krupa (അവന്‍ കൃപ) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Binu Vadakkencherry Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: J P Vennikulam (ജെ പി വെണ്ണിക്കുളം) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Malayalam) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: RSV (Visawasa Ganangal) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Shyju Mathew Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: വി. നാഗൽ കീർത്തനങ്ങൾ (V Nagal Songs) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Binoy Chacko Audio Bible (Malayalam) General / Other
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Malayalam YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sathyavedapusthakam (Malayalam) Kalaam Media Ltd
Text / Printed Matter Bible Gateway scripture Bible Gateway
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Malayalam Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Nithi Anand - Flickr  Creative Commons 
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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