Tadvi 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 Tadvi Bhil are an indigenous, agricultural people who are subset of the larger Bhil group. The word Tadvi means "one who taps the palm tree." The Tadvi live in the forests of the Indian central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and the west state of Maharashtra. The majority of Tadvi are Hindus but at least 10% are Muslims. The Tadvi are listed as a schedule tribe meaning that certain pubic jobs and university spots are reserved for them. The Tadvi have their own language of Dangi. Many Tadvi are learning to speak Hindi and Marathi so they can communicate with other peoples. A Dangi New Testament was completed in 2017. The gospel will need to be presented to most Tadvi is oral or visual forms.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The main livelihood of the Tadvi Bhil is farming. They grow wet rice as their primary crop. Cotton, peanuts and barley are cash crops. Most families own a small plot of land, but they spend most of their time cultivating land owned by others. Fishing and hunting supplement their diet. As Hindus, they will not eat beef. The Tadvi marry within their group but not within their particular clan. Families arrange marriages with the girls often being married in their early teens. The newly married couple lives with the groom's family until they can afford to build their own house. Sons inherit the father's property. They build their houses from bamboo and mud. Having a tile floor and not a dirt one is a sign that the family is relatively wealthy. Most Tadvi live in villages composed of other Tadvi Bhil. Village priests and elders preside at important family ceremonies such as births, weddings and funerals.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The large majority of Tadvi 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 Tadvi visit Hindu shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods as Christians do. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. Along with Hinduism, the Tadvi believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. The Tadvi believe that they must appease these evil spirits. The main yearly holidays of the Tadvi 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. The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories. The lowest communities are outside of the caste system. As a tribal people, the Tadvi are deemed outside the caste system and given low status.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tadvi need good schools for their children. Many of the adults need to learn new job skills. Medical teams can bring the benefits of modern medicine to Tadvi villages. Most of all the Tadvi need to hear and understand the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to live and work among the Tadvi Bhil of India. Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession. Pray for effectiveness of the JESUS Film among the Tadvi Bhil. Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of the Tadvi Bhil so they will be receptive to Jesus Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement to flourish among them, causing their society to improve dramatically.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhil Tadvi in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Bhil Tadvi
People Name in Country Bhil Tadvi
Natural Name Tadvi Bhil
Alternate Names Tadvi; Tadvi Bhil; Tadwi; Tadwi Bhil; भील ताडवी
Population this Country 527,000
Population all Countries 527,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 11
PeopleID3 21021
ROP3 Code 117873
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 3
Largest States
Madhya Pradesh
451,000
Maharashtra
75,000
Gujarat
400
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 3
  Madhya Pradesh 451,000
  Maharashtra 75,000
  Gujarat 400
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.06 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
91.05 %
Islam
8.12 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.76 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Dangi (340,000 speakers)
Language Code dhn   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 23
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhili
60,000
Hindi
34,000
Marathi
22,000
Khandesi
2,800
Urdu
2,400
Bareli, Pauri
800
Bareli, Rathwi
800
Nimadi
500
Bareli, Palya
400
Gujarati
300
Dungra Bhil
300
Vasavi
200
Malvi
100
Mewari
30
Ahirani
30
Primary Language Dangi (340,000 speakers)
Language Code dhn   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 23
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhili 60,000
  Hindi 34,000
  Marathi 22,000
  Khandesi 2,800
  Urdu 2,400
  Bareli, Pauri 800
  Bareli, Rathwi 800
  Nimadi 500
  Bareli, Palya 400
  Gujarati 300
  Dungra Bhil 300
  Vasavi 200
  Malvi 100
  Mewari 30
  Ahirani 30
People Groups Speaking Dangi
Photo Source Tantyamama ka Bhil - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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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