Seriyar Sali in Sri Lanka


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Sali are a group of people with the traditional occupation of weaving silk and cotton. Their name means "weaver." They are known for producing beautiful silk saris. In some Indian states the Sali are a Scheduled Caste, which means they are entitled to special benefits in education and public employment.
Their primary language is Kannada. They also speak other regional languages like Telegu, Marathi, Malayalam and Tamil. Most Sali live in the Indian states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Some others live in areas in south, west and east India. A few Sali live in the island nation of Sri Lanka. The Seriyar are one of the Sali groups.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Sali still engage in their ancient profession of weaving, dyeing and designing clothes in silk, cotton and other fibers. Some work in factories that produce cotton clothing. Others work in agricultural as laborers on others' land.
Most Sali are not vegetarians, but they do not eat beef or pork. They main foods are rice, wheat, vegetables and fruit. They will not receive water or food from those outside the Hindu caste system.
The Sali are endogamous, that is they marry within their Varna or caste. Cousin marriages are popular. Adult marriages are the rule with families arranging the marriages with the consent of the young persons. Brahmin priests officiate at important life rituals. The dead are both cremated and buried.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Sali are proud of their strong Hindu tradition. Most Sali practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Shiva and Vishnu are given special worship are the supreme deities. The Sali visit Hindu temples to offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. Freedom from rebirth or moksha is achieved through rituals and good works.
The Sali participate in the yearly Hindu holidays of Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the nine-day celebration in autumn and Ganapati, the holiday that honors the god Ganesha. Their main festival is Rakhi Purnima that celebrates the love between brothers and sisters held in August.
There is a strong Christian minority among them in Sri Lanka but not in India.


What Are Their Needs?

The Sali need to hear and respond to the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. They need to see that the good news concerning Christ is for them. The Sali need to see the love and care of Jesus lived out in a concrete way before them.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those Christians ministering to the Sali people.
Pray for Sali families to be drawn to Jesus and to the Bible to find out more about this man, Jesus.
Pray that the Sali see that Jesus alone will save them from their sins.
Pray for a movement to Jesus to multiply among Sali families and communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Sali, Seriyar in Sri Lanka.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swakula_Sali


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Sali
People Name in Country Sali, Seriyar
Natural Name Seriyar Sali
Alternate Names Aviri; Ayiri; Bahuttana; Bilimagga; Bilmagga; Calian; Chaliyan; Jamkhana; Karnasali; Kurahina Chetti; Kurahina Setty; Kurni; Kurnivasetti; Kuruhina Setty; Lingayat; Neelakanti; Neikar; Nesevadu; Nessi; Neygi; Padamsale; Padamsali; Padigarajulu; Padmasali; Padmasaliyar; Pandonsali; Pattaryan; Putuvan; Salapu; Salavi; Saleelu; Salhi; Salia; Salian; Saliar; Saliyan; Saliyar; Saluppan; Senapathi; Seniya; Sutsali; Tansali; साली
Population this Country 3,400
Population all Countries 1,191,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 18002
ROP3 Code 113495
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 6
Largest States
Central
1,900
Uva
600
Sabaragamuwa
400
Western
300
Southern
80
Eastern
30
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 6
  Central 1,900
  Uva 600
  Sabaragamuwa 400
  Western 300
  Southern 80
  Eastern 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
10.94 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
89.06 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Sri Lanka census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (3,400 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tamil (3,400 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
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 General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
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 Tamil 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 Rivka video 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 Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Biswarup Ganguly - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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