Ravalia 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.

Subgroups: 9

Subgroup Name Population
Panchania 39,000
Sorathia 36,000
Baria 5,800
Bhalia 5,800
Bhorria 5,800
Makvania 5,800
Palai 5,800
Sakhia 5,800
Udlia 5,800

Introduction / History

The Ravalia or Raval are a people group living in west India. Their traditional occupation was transporting goods on camels or on ox carts. Modern trains and trucks have taken away their livelihood. Now they work at any job they kind find such as street sweepers, weavers, village shamans and priests and landless farm workers. The Ravalia are classified as an Other Backward Caste (OBC), which means they are eligible are special consideration in obtaining public job and university admissions. Illiteracy is a problem for the Ravalia. In a recent survey only 62% of the men and 42% of the women could read and right. If the Ravalia are to improve their place in Indian society, they will have to increase their literacy rate.

The primary language of the Ravalia is Gujarati. Many of them also speak Hindi and other regional languages.


Where Are they Located?

The vast majority of the Ravalia live in the Indian state of Gujarat. Smaller groups live in Karnataka and Maharashtra.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lives of the Ravalia are very difficult due to their status and lack of education. Simply getting enough food for their families is a daily struggle. The Ravalia must build their own shrines to their gods and function as their own priests.

They mostly live in rural villages without the modern conveniences of electricity and indoor plumbing.

The Ravalia marry within their group. Monogamy is the general rule with families arranging marriages. Girls are often married in their middle teens. Sons inherit what little property a father possesses. Widows are allowed to remarry.

The Ravalia are not vegetarians. They do not eat beef. Meat is often reserved for feast days. The main foods of the Ravalia are wheat, rice, lentils and seasonal vegetables.


What Are Their Needs?

The needs of this low class community are huge. Most of all they need to turn from their Hindu gods to the true God of the Bible. The Ravalia need training in job skills and in educating their children. They need the services of modern medical care. Access to clean water would decrease the many diseases that plague the Ravalia.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lord sends Christian workers to help meet the spiritual and physical needs of the Ravalia.
Pray God opens their hearts to the good news of Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those ministering to the Ravalia people.


Scripture Prayers for the Ravalia in India.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawal
http://rawalcommunity.yolasite.com/
www.revolvy.com/page/Rawal
books.google.com/books?isbn=8180280144


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Ravalia
People Name in Country Ravalia
Alternate Names Brahma Kapali; Brahmakapali; Chaudhari; Hanagi; Jagiasi; Nath Panthi; Nathpanthi; Raul; Raval; Ravaljogi; Rawal; रवलिया
Population this Country 598,000
Population all Countries 602,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 12
PeopleID3 17950
ROP3 Code 113439
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Tribal - other
People Group Ravalia
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 9
  Panchania 39,000
  Sorathia 36,000
  Baria 5,800
  Bhalia 5,800
  Bhorria 5,800
  Makvania 5,800
  Palai 5,800
  Sakhia 5,800
  Udlia 5,800
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 13
Largest States
Gujarat
580,000
Karnataka
10,000
Maharashtra
6,000
Madhya Pradesh
900
Tamil Nadu
300
Daman and Diu
200
Delhi
200
Rajasthan
90
Dadra and Nagar Have
90
West Bengal
70
Telangana
50
Chhattisgarh
40
Jharkhand
20
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 13
  Gujarat 580,000
  Karnataka 10,000
  Maharashtra 6,000
  Madhya Pradesh 900
  Tamil Nadu 300
  Daman and Diu 200
  Delhi 200
  Rajasthan 90
  Dadra and Nagar Have 90
  West Bengal 70
  Telangana 50
  Chhattisgarh 40
  Jharkhand 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.10 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.04 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.81 %
Islam
0.02 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.02 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (482,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Hindi
35,000
Kannada
6,500
Marathi
4,000
Koli, Wadiyari
1,400
Kacchi
400
Telugu
400
Marwari (India)
300
Konkani, Goan
200
Sourashtra
100
Wagdi
Primary Language Gujarati (482,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 35,000
  Kannada 6,500
  Marathi 4,000
  Koli, Wadiyari 1,400
  Kacchi 400
  Telugu 400
  Marwari (India) 300
  Konkani, Goan 200
  Sourashtra 100
  Wagdi 0
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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 Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
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 Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 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 Four Spiritual Laws Cru
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: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Gujarati Bible (ગુજરાતી બાઇબલ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Gujarati Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Gujarati Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Gujarati Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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