Teli Ganiga (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.

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?

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


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Ganiga 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, some have 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 Ganiga 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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Ganiga 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 Ganiga Teli people are not usually poor, but they need better access to higher education and good job opportunities. They need the opportunity to meet and serve the Risen Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Ganiga Teli community in India.
Pray for the Ganiga Teli people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.
Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers Ganiga Teli disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Ganiga Teli communities.


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


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18229/IN
https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/teli/
https://www.shaadi.com/matrimony/teli-india-brides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganiga


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Teli Ganiga (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Teli Ganiga (Hindu traditions)
Alternate Names टेली गणीगा (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 41,000
Population all Countries 41,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 21260
ROP3 Code 118083
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 41,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
3.29 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
96.71 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Marathi (13,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Hindi
12,000
Konkani
11,000
Tulu
500
Primary Language Marathi (13,000 speakers)
Language Code mar   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 12,000
  Konkani 11,000
  Tulu 500
People Groups Speaking Marathi

Primary Language:  Marathi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1807-1957)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1982)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1821-2024)
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Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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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