Introduction / History

The Koli people are also called Dongar or Raj Koli. Generally Koli means a fisherman but the Koli people's primary occupation is agriculture. One of their subgroups are those who live in Gujarat and speak Gujarati. These Gujarati speakers also live in other areas of India though they are less populous outside Gujarat.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Their staple food consists of rice, nagli, varai and wheat. Other than agriculture they are also involved in cattle production, dairy and poultry farming and wage labor as subsidiary occupations.

They live in nuclear families. Bride price plays an important part in marriage. The marriage ceremony lasts for three to four days. They allow for divorce and remarriage. They bury their dead, but in some cases they cremate.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Gujarati Koli follow a number of Hindu traditions. Members of each clan have their own deity.

What Are Their Needs?

The Koli of Gujarat need the opportunity to allow Jesus Christ to enrich their lives physically, economically and spiritually. Some Koli villages are without electricity. Solar panels would greatly improve their lives. They often lack access to clean water and modern medicine. The Koli of Gujarat must hear and understand the message about Jesus Christ to have their sins forgiven and to obtain eternal life.

Prayer Points

Pray for a movement to Christ among this Koli community.

Pray for more literacy and development programs and better schools.

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive all Koli subgroups to Jesus Christ.

Scripture Prayers for the Koli of Gujarat in India.

References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission