Dasari Balija 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 Dasari Balija live in Andhra Pradesh. Their name comes from performing one act plays which they do not do so much now. They speak, read and write in Telugu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Dasari Balija work mostly as laborers now. The women collect firewood and help with financial matters. They have a council to look after their needs. Their education level is low, so the gospel will need to be presented in oral forms. The bereaved and divorced can marry again. On the death of the father, sons inherit the property with the oldest son becoming in charge of the home. They bury their dead instead of cremating them.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Dasari Balija people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples 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 like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins. Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like 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.


What Are Their Needs?

They need to accept the blessings of Jesus Christ, the one who came to give life to the full.


Prayer Points

Pray that Indian believers make it their mission to help the Dasari Balija people find their way to the cross.
Pray that gospel recordings and the JESUS Film will become easily available.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead them to Jesus Christ, the only savior.


Scripture Prayers for the Balija Dasari in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Balija Dasari
People Name in Country Balija Dasari
Natural Name Dasari Balija
Alternate Names Atollu; Bail Agsali; Baita Kumsula; Bukka Dasari; Chakravadya Dasar; Dangdasar; Dasa; Dasri; Dasu; Desri; Donga; Gandalla; Gudu; Gujula Balija; Johari Sonar; Krishna Balija; Musoku; Perika Baloa; Poosala Balija; बलिजा दसारी
Population this Country 59,000
Population all Countries 59,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 21091
ROP3 Code 117915
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 5
Largest States
Karnataka
46,000
Tamil Nadu
8,800
Odisha
2,400
Andhra Pradesh
1,600
Maharashtra
200
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 5
  Karnataka 46,000
  Tamil Nadu 8,800
  Odisha 2,400
  Andhra Pradesh 1,600
  Maharashtra 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
98.86 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
1.14 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Kannada (33,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Telugu
19,000
Odia
600
Primary Language Kannada (33,000 speakers)
Language Code kan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Telugu 19,000
  Odia 600
People Groups Speaking Kannada

Primary Language:  Kannada

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1812-1988)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1827-2023)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1827-2024)
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 Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
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 Jesus Film: view in Kannada 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 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 in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 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: Kannada YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Kannada Bible (ಕನ್ನಡ ಬೈಬಲ್) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kannada Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Kannada Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Kannada 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: Kannada YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Kannada Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Kannada Literacy & Evangelism International
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 Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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