Teli (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.

Subgroups: 72 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Kalu কালু 947,000
Ghana 615,000
Byahut 561,000
Kanaujia 485,000
Jaunpuria 301,000
Jaiswal 244,000
Bahlim 55,000
Mathuria 47,000
Doasna 30,000
Eksana 25,000

Introduction / History

Within the caste system of India there are numerous communities which have a given task to benefit others. The Teli community is one of these. "A community which derives its name from the Sanskrit word talika or taila, used for the oil extracted from sesame and mustard, thus alluding to their traditional occupation... Mythological origin of the Teli is traced to Lord Shiva who created them to destroy five demons. However, their legend also says that the first Teli was created by Shiva to rub him with oil." (Singh, K. S., India's Communities, p. 3462)

Telis were traditionally considered one of the the Vaisya, or trading communities. That put them as part of the third highest of four caste clusters.


Where Are they Located?

Most Teli people live throughout India. A smaller number live in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka or Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Teli community once did the labor-intensive job of pressing and extracting oil, but now that job is done by mechanical means. For this reason, they have mainly resorted to farming or animal husbandry. A good many of these are landless, and some have applied to be considered "Other backward castes" so they can receive special treatment from the Indian government. A smaller number of them are businessmen or hotel managers, metal workers, cart pullers, or common laborers. Many work in government jobs, and they are active in politics.

The Teli people are endogamous, meaning that they only marry within their own community. Family heads and elders arrange their marriages, and the dowry is paid with cash and valuable goods. In today's world, Teli people live mainly in nuclear families.

Like all other South Asian communities, women have lower status and power than men; however, women take a leading role in social and religious activities. Women also help with the family income through embroidery and other money-making activities.


The perception of Christianity as an invading influence that breaks up families and promotes many social problems is a serious obstacle to Teli families and communities humbly accepting God's blessing for their families.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The Teli are mainly Hindus who have special celebrations at weddings and the birth of a child. They cremate the dead, and scatter the ashes in a river, preferably the Ganges, a river that Hindus consider to be holy. They worship their ancestors and seek protection from evil spirits. This people group is pragmatic in their spiritual practices. They worship a "wish-fulfilling goddess" whom they hope will answer their prayers.


What Are Their Needs?

The Teli people are not usually poor, but they need better access to higher education and good job opportunities. They also need access to meeting the Risen Christ and the opportunity to follow Him.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Teli people will develop a hunger for the true God.
Pray that believers will reach out to this people with the blessings of Christ.
Pray that soon the oil of the Holy Spirit would anoint Teli community leaders and lead them to throw open the doors for their people to follow Jesus.
Pray for the Lord to raise up Teli believers who will disciple others and begin the process of starting a Disciple-Making Movement among this people group.


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


References

http://www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/teli/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teli
https://www.quora.com/I-belong-to-the-Teli-caste-from-Bihar-residing-in-Kolkata-Recently-Bihar-Government-has-included-Teli-caste-in-Extremely-backward-caste-list-How-Can-I-get-my-caste-certificate
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/teli-people1/
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/Teli-People/
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/Teli-People-edible-oil-extractors/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Teli (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Teli (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation TEL-ee
Alternate Names Badbaik; Balu; Devi-Telikula; Gachhi; Gandla; Ganiga; Ganigaru; Ganita; Goundla; Gunigan; Gunija; Hansari; Harsolia; Kalu; Kanala; Malik; Maliks; Modh Ganchi; Murmi; Rathor; Sahu; Sahu Samaj; Somakshatriya; Taili; Tailik; Teli Telukula; Telikula; Telipal; Telwain; Tili; Tilwan; Vaniyan; टेली (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 21,520,000
Population all Countries 22,116,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 430
PeopleID3 18229
ROP3 Code 113757
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Hindu - Teli
People Group Teli (Hindu traditions)
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 72 (only 15 largest shown)
  Kalu কালু 947,000
  Ghana 615,000
  Byahut 561,000
  Kanaujia 485,000
  Jaunpuria 301,000
  Jaiswal 244,000
  Bahlim 55,000
  Mathuria 47,000
  Doasna 30,000
  Eksana 25,000
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 34
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
3,712,000
Bihar
3,274,000
Chhattisgarh
2,548,000
West Bengal
2,033,000
Maharashtra
1,761,000
Madhya Pradesh
1,734,000
Odisha
1,523,000
Jharkhand
1,420,000
Haryana
793,000
Rajasthan
624,000
Andhra Pradesh
490,000
Karnataka
393,000
Tamil Nadu
284,000
Gujarat
269,000
Assam
231,000
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 34  (only 20 largest shown)
  Uttar Pradesh 3,712,000
  Bihar 3,274,000
  Chhattisgarh 2,548,000
  West Bengal 2,033,000
  Maharashtra 1,761,000
  Madhya Pradesh 1,734,000
  Odisha 1,523,000
  Jharkhand 1,420,000
  Haryana 793,000
  Rajasthan 624,000
  Andhra Pradesh 490,000
  Karnataka 393,000
  Tamil Nadu 284,000
  Gujarat 269,000
  Assam 231,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.10 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.87 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (8,270,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 64
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bengali
1,931,000
Chhattisgarhi
1,547,000
Bhojpuri
1,388,000
Marathi
1,302,000
Odia
1,203,000
Telugu
670,000
Magahi
349,000
Maithili
334,000
Kannada
298,000
Tamil
220,000
Gujarati
212,000
Assamese
149,000
Haryanvi
141,000
Kanauji
125,000
Wagdi
87,000
Primary Language Hindi (8,270,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 64
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bengali 1,931,000
  Chhattisgarhi 1,547,000
  Bhojpuri 1,388,000
  Marathi 1,302,000
  Odia 1,203,000
  Telugu 670,000
  Magahi 349,000
  Maithili 334,000
  Kannada 298,000
  Tamil 220,000
  Gujarati 212,000
  Assamese 149,000
  Haryanvi 141,000
  Kanauji 125,000
  Wagdi 87,000
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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Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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