Dhanka Bhil 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 name Dhanka is related to the word hill or bow. Others claim their name is related to a term for forest dweller. Some believe they are one of the Bhil subgroups. Dhanka are a scheduled tribe except in Madhya Pradesh. They live in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They no longer have any land for farming so they migrate to the cities. The Dhanka often work in electricity and waterworks departments. The literacy of the Dhanka is 65%, one of the highest of the tribes of Rajasthan. Although the Dhanka are known as hard workers, they are often very poor. They need a proper share of reservation land. On the death of the father, all of the children get the same share of the property. The bereaved and divorced can marry again. The Dhanka people only marry within their community. They have a traditional council. They prefer traditional medicine, but they use modern medicines in more serious cases.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Hinduism is their religion. Spiritual beliefs of Hindus are very diverse from those who worship only one god to those who worship hundreds of them to those who are philosophical and do not worship any.


What Are Their Needs?

Dhanka people need fair job opportunities.


Prayer Points

Pray for them to experience the spiritual and social blessings of Christ who came to give life to the full. Pray that gospel recordings and the JESUS Film will give them the willingness to consider the claims of Christ. Pray that Indian believers will help lead them into a disciple making movement.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhil Dhanka in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Bhil Dhanka
People Name in Country Bhil Dhanka
Natural Name Dhanka Bhil
Alternate Names भील ढँका
Population this Country 338,000
Population all Countries 338,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
PeopleID3 21012
ROP3 Code 117863
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
Gujarat
315,000
Maharashtra
23,000
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 2
  Gujarat 315,000
  Maharashtra 23,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.55 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.92 %
Islam
0.20 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.32 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (245,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 33
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhili
22,000
Marathi
18,000
Vasavi
6,300
Dangi
2,900
Hindi
800
Khandesi
500
Bareli, Pauri
300
Mawchi: Mawchi
300
Gamit
200
Haryanvi
200
Marwari (India)
100
Bareli, Rathwi
100
Dungra Bhil
60
Ahirani
30
Wagdi
20
Primary Language Gujarati (245,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 33
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhili 22,000
  Marathi 18,000
  Vasavi 6,300
  Dangi 2,900
  Hindi 800
  Khandesi 500
  Bareli, Pauri 300
  Mawchi: Mawchi 300
  Gamit 200
  Haryanvi 200
  Marwari (India) 100
  Bareli, Rathwi 100
  Dungra Bhil 60
  Ahirani 30
  Wagdi 20
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
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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