Paliyan in India

People Name:	Paliyan
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	11,000
World Population:	11,000
Primary Language:	Tamil
Primary Religion:	Hinduism
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Hindu - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

This Scheduled Tribe lives in the southern parts of India where they once gather goods from the forest to sell. They were nomadic hunter-gatherers who ate mainly yams.

Where Are they Located?

This people group lives in the southernmost parts of India's states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Their original language is related to Malayalam, the language of Kerala.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today these people sell forest products such as honey. Some are wage laborers. They often live in the hills where they are vulnerable to attacks by other communities. Many have been driven out of their traditional homeland by encroachers.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Paliyan people practice Hinduism, but it is blended with their traditional beliefs which involve appeasing various spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

These people need protection from those who are taking away their livelihood and their homeland.

Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Paliyan 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 Paliyan families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Paliyan people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Paliyan 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.