Samasi 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 Samasi are a small Scheduled Caste of weavers. Their ancestors probably migrated from what is now Ranchi in Jharkhand to their current location in Odisha.


Where Are they Located?

This Hindu people group lives in Odisha, a state in eastern India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

At one time Samasi people were married while in their teens but now they practice adult marriage. Commonly they marry their cousins. Usually their marriages are between one man and one woman, unless the wife agrees for him to take on a second wife.

The marriage ceremony is at the home of the bride's family. Brahman priests officiate, and like most Hindus, the couple walks around a sacred fire seven times, and then the groom applies vermilion on the bride's forehead as a symbol of her new marital status. Then all the wedding guests enjoy a feast.

Samasi families can be either nuclear or extended. Sons stay with their parents until the parents die, then they scatter along with their wives if they are married.

Women have higher status and more power than they did before independence in 1947. They still must work hard with all aspects of their economy, but they share decision making powers with their husbands in regard to issues of marriage or property. However, they have no power in the area of social control.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Samasi people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Like other Hindus, they employ Brahman priests for their ceremonies. They are most likely to worship Lord Jagannath and the goddess Laxmi as their favored deities, though they have others they worship as well. They worship at the same shrines as other communities, share the same roads and water sources.


What Are Their Needs?

The Samasi community needs the transforming grace that can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to change them from within.


Prayer Points

Pray for an abundant blessing of Samasi families and communities as they embrace Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords.
Pray for a movement to Christ that will enrich the Samasi community.
Pray for spiritual openness to Jesus Christ that will not be hindered by the false belief in religious institutions rather than the person, Jesus Christ.
Pray for a family-based disciple-making movement in the 2020s.


Scripture Prayers for the Samasi in India.


References

https://twitter.com/BrettAiken21/status/1021745905228279808
http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2013/04/25/alleged-court-order-violation-by-samasi-villagers/


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Samasi
People Name in Country Samasi
Alternate Names Kunapull; Padigarajulu; Samaya; Samayavallu; Swasi; सामसी
Population this Country 1,700
Population all Countries 1,700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18009
ROP3 Code 113502
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 2
Largest States
Odisha
1,700
Andhra Pradesh
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 2
  Odisha 1,700
  Andhra Pradesh 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
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 Odia (1,200 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Sadri
300
Telugu
50
Primary Language Odia (1,200 speakers)
Language Code ory   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Sadri 300
  Telugu 50
People Groups Speaking Odia

Primary Language:  Odia

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1809-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1815-2021)
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 Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Odia 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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
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 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 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 (Oriya) 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 Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Odia YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Odia (Oriya) / English Bible (AKJV) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible App: Odiya Bible (ଓଡିଆ ବାଇବେଲ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Oriya Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Odiya Bible Radio 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 iOS Bible app: Odia YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Odiya Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
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
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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