Koliyan in India

Koliyan
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Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Koliyan
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 9,800
World Population: 9,800
Primary Language: Tamil
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 3.93 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Ministry Resources: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Dalit - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Koliyan or Koliya are a subcaste of the greater Kurmi people. They speak Koli or Koliya, a Hindi dialect, or Tamil.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Koliyan make their living as family farmers who grow crops and raise farm animals.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Koliyan form of Hinduism incorporates their own festivals and deities. They celebrate a harvest festival.

What Are Their Needs?

The Koliyan community needs political empowerment. For this reason, they have established political movements designed to promote land reform and a reservation of educational opportunities. The forces of globalization and modernization are a threat to this impoverished community.

Prayer Points

Pray for loving workers to go to the Koliyan people until there are disciples who make more disciples.

Pray the Lord will prepare the hearts of the Koliyan to understand and to believe the gospel.

Pray for the Lord to bless the Koliyan people with adequate education and medical facilities.

Pray for the Lord to bless the Koliyan people so abundantly that they will see he is the only one worthy of praise and worship.

Text Source:   Joshua Project