The Gangakula or Kabbaliga or Koli have been fishermen or boatmen for hundreds of years in south India. "Koli" means boat in Sanskrit. Since fishing and making boats were considered lower occupations in Hindu society, Koli were placed in a lower caste. They also work as village watchmen and as landless farm laborers. Even today many Koli, both men and women, are illiterate. During the British period, Koli became part of small armies who maintained order in south India. Modern education is giving young Gangakula an opportunity to rise above their ancestors' status by becoming doctors, teachers and business owners.
The primary language of the Gangakula is Kannada.
The vast majority of Gangakula live in the south Indian state of Karnataka. Others live in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and other areas of south India.
Many Gangakula still work in their traditional job as fishermen, ferrymen and boat builders. They fish the rivers, lakes and ocean of south India. They ferry people across rivers where no bridge is available. They sell their fish in the villages and cities. Some also work on farms owned by others. Women work as domestics to gain more income for their families.
Families arrange marriages. Girls marry in their mid-teens while boys marry in their late teens. Cousin marriages are common. Village Brahman priests perform the weddings. Sons inherit family property with the eldest son getting the home. New couples live near or with the groom's family.
Lack of education has hampered the Gangakula from raising their status. That is slowly changing with young people graduating from college and entering professional careers.
The Gangakula are Hindus. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They pay special attention to Ganesha, the god of success and good fortune and Durga, the warrior-mother goddess who fights evil spirits. Due to their low status Gangakula are often denied entrance into Hindu temples. They build temporary temples called pantals to Ganesha and Durga.
The Gangakula participate in the major Hindu holidays like Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the nine-day celebration in autumn.
The Gangakula need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ in a way they are understand. They need to see that Hinduism will not save them from their sins. They need help in providing an education for their children.
Pray that God sends Christian workers and teachers to help the Gangakula escape their spiritual and physical poverty.
Pray the Gangakula see Christ's love in the lives of Indian Christians.
Pray the Lord opens the heart of the Gangakula and many become believers in a growing church in their community.
Scripture Prayers for the Gangakula in India.
shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/174766/10/10_chapter%203.pdf
Profile Source: David Kugel |
People Name General | Gangakula |
People Name in Country | Gangakula |
Pronunciation | gohn-GAH-koo-lah |
Alternate Names | Ambiga; Bhoi; Gam Naik; Gamvakkal; Gangabigur; Gangamakkalu; Gangaputra; Gangauda; Gangemakkalu; Gaurimata; Gowrimatha; Kabbali; Kabbera; Kahar; Kharia; Koli; गंगकुला |
Population this Country | 1,840,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,840,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 37 |
People ID | 16785 |
ROP3 Code | 112046 |
ROP25 Code | 309206 |
ROP25 Name | Gangakula |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Hindu - other |
People Group | Gangakula |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 17 (only 15 largest shown) |
Kabber 211,000 | |
Ambig 83,000 | |
Koli 3,600 | |
Bhoi 3,200 | |
Gauda 2,900 | |
Bailgammar 2,800 | |
Durgamurgi 2,800 | |
Bailugar 2,700 | |
Bovar 2,700 | |
Haig 2,700 |
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 | 11 | ||||||||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 11 |
Karnataka 1,687,000 | |
Tamil Nadu 81,000 | |
Maharashtra 38,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 14,000 | |
Goa 10,000 | |
Telangana 5,400 | |
Kerala 2,500 | |
Delhi 900 | |
Gujarat 300 | |
Madhya Pradesh 70 | |
Chhattisgarh 30 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.01 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.99 %
|
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 | Kannada (1,470,000 speakers) | |||||||||
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||
Total Languages | 8 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Kannada (1,470,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kan Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 8 |
Secondary Languages | |
Telugu 30,000 | |
Konkani, Goan 21,000 | |
Konkani 16,000 | |
Tulu 12,000 | |
Marathi 1,200 | |
Tamil 600 | |
Malayalam 60 | |
People Groups | Speaking Kannada |
Primary Language: Kannada
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1812-1988) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1823-2023) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1827-2023) |
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 |
Photo Source | Steve Evans - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | David Kugel |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |