Ho in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Ho of India, unlike most other peoples in India, are classified as Caucasian. Most live in the forest area of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Southern Bihar region of India. Groups also inhabit Northern Orissa as well as parts of West Bengal, Bangladesh, and Nepal, all areas clustered near the northeastern corner of India. Because they speak Ho (the Lahore dialect of the Maunder language), they are grouped with other Maunder-speaking groups such as the Saints and Mounds of India.

The word "ho" means "human being". According to Ho belief, all other groups of people are considered to be foreigners or outsiders, and not men. This may explain their independent and sometimes isolationist nature. A number of outsiders, such as the British and Muslims, have ruled the Ho tribe, but their fiercely independent nature has successfully kept them from the rule of the predominant Hindu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Ho consider themselves to be a separate tribe and not part of the Hindu caste system, even though around one-third follow the Hindu belief system. Unlike the majority Hindus who make up India, the Ho eat meat and drink rice beer.

The tribe's culture is intertwined with the natural world. They are most comfortable in the forest environment that supplies many of the necessities they need for living. Roots, leaves and flowers of plants, grass, fruits, nuts, berries, mushrooms, and silk moth cocoons are used for food, trade, or medicine. Their major agricultural crop is rice, which they ferment to make beer. Mining for minerals found under the soil is the base for newly developing industries in nearby cities.

Villages are led by headmen who settle disputes and control the rent toll. Houses are usually made of mud and leaves of palm or other trees. Feasts or festivals mark the end of one season or the beginning of another. The major feast, called the "feast of contracts," is held after the annual harvest. The festival lasts about two months and includes singing, dancing, and drinking. All obligations and contracts end until the new year.

Many marriages also take place during the festival. Traditionally, a Ho marriage takes place when the groom's family pays a chari (bride price). In the past few years, however, a dowry (gifts or money from the bride's family to the groom) has begun to take the place of a chari.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of the Ho are animists (believing that non-human objects have spirits) who worship clan gods such as a snake or monkey, and spirits which are approached through witchcraft or trances. They believe the world is full of bongas (spirits) that exist in objects of nature. Meat and beer are offered as a sacrifice to the bongas because they can cause disease and bad luck to those who do not appease them. Once a man worships a bonga, it becomes his teacher and the man becomes a shaman (medicine man or priest). The village protector spirit is asked by a priest to watch over the Ho activities and to protect them from evil spirits.

The Ho believe a man's shadow is his individuality, his character, which grows and develops throughout his life. The shadow never dies, but when a man dies, his shadow returns to his house where it is joined by other 'house dead' who dwell with his family. The 'house dead' either help or trouble the family depending on the amount of respect given to them.


What Are Their Needs?

The New Testament is printed in the Ho language and some missions agencies currently labor among these people. Although efforts are being made to evangelize the Ho, their response has been very low-only a small number are Christians, so there is a strong need for further prayer and evangelism.


Prayer Points

Pray that the truth of the Gospel will set them free.
Pray that the Ho who have heard the Gospel of the One True God will accept Him and work to reach their own people for Christ.
Ask the Lord to soften the hearts of the Ho so they will want to know Christ.
Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to missionaries trying to reach the Ho for Christ.
Pray that God will protect and encourage the small number of Ho Christians.


Scripture Prayers for the Ho in India.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Ho
People Name in Country Ho
Pronunciation hoh
Alternate Names Lanka Kol; हो
Population this Country 1,276,000
Population all Countries 1,373,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 26
People ID 16944
ROP3 Code 112247
ROP25 Code 303059
ROP25 Name Ho
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 12
Largest States
Jharkhand
1,101,000
Odisha
96,000
Assam
50,000
West Bengal
28,000
Bihar
800
Arunachal Pradesh
300
Chhattisgarh
200
Tripura
100
Delhi
80
Maharashtra
40
Tamil Nadu
20
Punjab
10
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 12
  Jharkhand 1,101,000
  Odisha 96,000
  Assam 50,000
  West Bengal 28,000
  Bihar 800
  Arunachal Pradesh 300
  Chhattisgarh 200
  Tripura 100
  Delhi 80
  Maharashtra 40
  Tamil Nadu 20
  Punjab 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Unknown
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.03 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.38 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
14.52 %
Islam
0.09 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
82.96 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Ho (944,000 speakers)
Language Code hoc   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 52
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Odia
60,000
Assamese
22,000
Bengali
13,000
Hindi
10,000
Kurux
8,600
Santhali
7,700
Mundari
4,500
Sadri
3,200
Munda
700
Nepali
500
Kol
200
Kuvi
200
Bhojpuri
200
Maithili
100
Kudmali
80
Primary Language Ho (944,000 speakers)
Language Code hoc   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 52
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Odia 60,000
  Assamese 22,000
  Bengali 13,000
  Hindi 10,000
  Kurux 8,600
  Santhali 7,700
  Mundari 4,500
  Sadri 3,200
  Munda 700
  Nepali 500
  Kol 200
  Kuvi 200
  Bhojpuri 200
  Maithili 100
  Kudmali 80
People Groups Speaking Ho

Primary Language:  Ho

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1915-1987)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1991-1997)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Ho Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Ramesh Lalwani - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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