Kaniyan in India

The Kaniyan have only been reported 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 Kaniyan are a scheduled tribal people who live in South India. Their traditional occupation is kaniyan koothu performance at temples. In this ritual art form, they sing and dance to invoke the spirit of graveyard God Sudalai Madan. which is performed today in its southernmost end kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and nellai districts Their calling is belived to be derived from the tamil term for seeing or calculation.The primary language of the Kaniyan is Tamil.


Where Are they Located?

The large majority of the Kaniyan live in the Indian state of Kerala. Smaller groups live in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

South Indians know the Kaniyan tribals for a festive art form called Kaniyan Koothu. This art includes music, dancing, special costumes and chanting. Only Kaniyan men can perform this rite. Two Kaniyan men dress up as women and dance in a frenzied fashion to fast, loud music. Koothu art honors Sudalai Madan, the graveyard god and offspring of Shiva and Parvathi who was banished to earth after it was discovered that he preferred eating human flesh to the nectar of the gods. The Kaniyan tend to marry within their group. What little property they possess it passed on from fathers to sons. The main food of the Kaniyan is rice. They also eat vegetables, fruit and grains.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon especially the destroyer god Shiva and his son, Sudalai Madan. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kaniyan desperately need the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, to shine into their hearts. They need help in educating their children and in learning new job skills. The gospel will have to be presented to them in oral form since so many of them cannot read.


Prayer Points

Pray that Indian Christians are moved to share the love and mercy of Christ with the Kaniyan in practical ways.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those ministering to the Kaniyan people.
Pray that God will overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of His Gospel among the Kaniyan.


Scripture Prayers for the Kaniyan in India.


References

thehindu.com/society/the-art-form-kaniyan-koothu-of-tamil-nadu-is-dedicated-to-the-graveyard-god-sudalai-madan/article24287788.ece
https://www.peoplegroups.org/explore/PeopleDetails.aspx?rop3=112424


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Kaniyan
People Name in Country Kaniyan
Alternate Names Ganka; Kani; Kanisan; Kanisu; Kaniya; Kaniyar; Kanyan; Kashi; Rashi-Panikar; कनियाँ
Population this Country 121,000
Population all Countries 121,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 17084
ROP3 Code 112424
ROP25 Code 303656
ROP25 Name Kaniyan
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 5
Largest States
Kerala
113,000
Karnataka
5,200
Tamil Nadu
2,700
Delhi
100
Andhra Pradesh
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 5
  Kerala 113,000
  Karnataka 5,200
  Tamil Nadu 2,700
  Delhi 100
  Andhra Pradesh 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.46 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.52 %
Islam
0.01 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Malayalam (96,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Kannada
4,300
Tamil
1,900
Telugu
100
Primary Language Malayalam (96,000 speakers)
Language Code mal   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Kannada 4,300
  Tamil 1,900
  Telugu 100
People Groups Speaking Malayalam

Primary Language:  Malayalam

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1811-1968)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1829-1995)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1841-2022)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Malayalam Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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