Arakh Gond 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

Gonds celebrate their legacy every year during the Dasara. On that occasion, all the living heirs of the crown in each generation are honored by carrying them on a royal cart carried on people's shoulders. However, it is uncertain where the Gond people originated. They are probably the largest Dravidian (ie, original tribe in the Subcontinent.)

In the 1500s, there were Gond kings, but they lost their power after being defeated first by the Marathas and then by Muslim armies. However, some of their estates remained for hundreds of years until India's independence in 1947.


Where Are they Located?

Arakh Gonds live only in eastern Maharashtra.


What Are Their Lives Like?

A crude gate on the mud road, the wooden poles on both the sides and the beam across it stands high enough for anyone to enter. There are remains of bundles and ropes hung on it. Among them you may find a new bundle of shrinking animal skin. If you see these before a village, you can be sure you are entering a Gond village.

Arakh Gonds are agriculturists and choose to live on the riverbeds close to forests. Most of them possess agricultural land. Those who have a good portion of land cultivate rice, grains and green dal. They often tend goats and cattle. Poorer Arakh Gonds work in the fields of richer Gonds. There is not much work available for them except in farming seasons. They love hunting and wild meats are their favorites.

Girls are married between the age of 13 and 15. Weddings are during the summer. It is acceptable for a girl and a boy in love to run away together. Once they come back, the Panchayat meet together to discuss the terms and conditions of the marriage. Other marriages are arranged by the parents. Depending up on the financial conditions of the families the bride groom's parents have to give the bride's parents some amount of money. Commonly Gond people marry their cousins.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Arakh Gond people believe that witchcraft and evil spirits are the causes for sicknesses, but they can keep them away through blood sacrifices. They have a high-priest who is responsible for three or four villages; this priest offers sacrifices for every village. The sacrifice will be followed by a social dinner. The sacrificial goat has to give permission for the sacrifice by nodding its head. The people will wait till the animal nods before slaughtering it. The whole village witnesses the sacrifice, but only the men enjoy the dinner made by cooking the sacrificed animal. All the men gather at the riverside to prepare the dinner. White or black palm liquor may supplement the dinner. The sacrifice animal's skin is stuffed with hay and hung on the village gate. This is to frighten the evil spirits and give courage to the villagers.


What Are Their Needs?

Arakh Gond spirituality stresses family and clan gods. Village priests and heads of households carry out these religious duties, which usually involve more blood sacrifices. Other rituals involve offerings of coconuts, flowers, fruits, colored powder or string.


Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Arakh Gond people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Gond families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Arakh Gond people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Arakh Gond people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.


Scripture Prayers for the Gond Arakh in India.


References

https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/gond/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gond
https://www.everyculture.com/wc/Germany-to-Jamaica/Gonds.html


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Gond Arakh
People Name in Country Gond Arakh
Natural Name Arakh Gond
Alternate Names Arakh; Arrakh; Dorve; Naik Gond; गोंद अरख
Population this Country 48,000
Population all Countries 48,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 21024
ROP3 Code 117875
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)
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 1
  Maharashtra 48,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.09 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
91.28 %
Islam
0.27 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
8.31 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gondi, Northern (22,000 speakers)
Language Code gno   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Marathi
16,000
Telugu
2,100
Hindi
1,600
Bhatri
700
Primary Language Gondi, Northern (22,000 speakers)
Language Code gno   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Marathi 16,000
  Telugu 2,100
  Hindi 1,600
  Bhatri 700
People Groups Speaking Gondi, Northern

Primary Language:  Gondi, Northern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1872-1987)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1994-1996)
Bible-Complete No
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
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Gondi, Northern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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