Sunuwar 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

India is a complex mosaic of ethnic, linguistic, religious, and social groupings. Because of this diversity, it is extremely difficult to adequately describe any single people group.

India may be divided into four main regions: the Himalayas, the northern river-plains region, the Deccan, and the Eastern and Western Ghat Mountains. Because of numerous geographical features, climatic conditions are also diversified on both a seasonal and regional basis, ranging from tropical to temperate extremes.

In the midst of this complexity can be found the Sondwari. They are located mainly in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Their language is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family. Little is known about their specific way of life.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of India's population lives in rural areas and is engaged in some form of agriculture. Many are farmers barely growing enough to survive. Farms are extremely small and often very fragmented. The raising of livestock, particularly horned cattle, buffalo, horses, and mules, is a central feature of the economy. Because of Hindu influence, however, these animals are used almost exclusively as beasts of burden rather than sources of meat.

Indian culture is primarily Hindu-oriented. Many Hindu institutions, including the rigid caste (social class) system, have wide-ranging effects on Indian society. The word "caste" basically means breed, race, or kind. Indian society is divided into hierarchical castes which are usually endogamous (marriage only within the caste). Castes may be defined by occupation or by kinship and lineage, but there are exceptions. Nevertheless, caste is so fundamental to the social organization of India that it prevails in all parts except some of the tribal populations. Not enough is known about the Sondwari to accurately place them within the caste system; thus, their particular lifestyle and culture cannot be adequately described.

Many Sondwari live in the state of Rajasthan. An important segment of society there are the Rajputs (Indian nobility). During the era of princes and maharajahs, Rajput aristocracy dominated the Rajasthan scene for several centuries. Rajasthan is also home to the Bhil tribe, the second largest scheduled tribe in India.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Sondwari are almost all Hindu and follow the basic Hindu customs and traditions. The term "Hinduism" came into use about A.D. 1200, but clearly identifying what Hindus believe is difficult. The religion has no founder, no prophet, and no instructional system. It is a way of living much more than a theology; it is a philosophy more than a religion. Contrary to popular belief in the West, Hinduism is not an ancient, fixed set of beliefs. It is instead a body of customs, practices, and beliefs which go through major changes every few hundred years.

The majority of Hindus, but not all, believe in a supreme being. Some respect all life and eat only vegetables, while others will gladly eat meat from sacrifices in the temple. To some, their religion is highly personal; to others, it is impersonal. While most Hindus worship Brahman (the creator), Shiva (the destroyer), Vishnu (the preserver), and the goddess Shaktri, they also worship a pantheon of other minor gods, their incarnations, spouses, or offspring. A belief in reincarnation is one of the few unifying features of Hinduism.


What Are Their Needs?

The few Christian believers need materials to encourage and strengthen them in their walk with the Lord. Fervent intercession and increased missions effort are necessities to see the Sondwari reached with the Good News of the Gospel.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send long-term missionaries to the Sondwari of India.
Ask God to save key leaders among the Sondwari who will boldly declare the Gospel.
Pray that God will strengthen, embolden, and protect the few Sondwari believers.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.


Scripture Prayers for the Sunuwar in India.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Sunuwar
People Name in Country Sunuwar
Alternate Names Sunwar; Sunwari; सुनुवार
Population this Country 101,000
Population all Countries 166,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
People ID 18152
ROP3 Code 109614
ROP25 Code 307756
ROP25 Name Sunwar / Sunuwar
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 17
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Assam
43,000
West Bengal
42,000
Sikkim
7,500
Meghalaya
5,700
Arunachal Pradesh
900
Manipur
800
Nagaland
500
Mizoram
90
Uttarakhand
90
Andaman and Nicobar
40
Uttar Pradesh
40
Himachal Pradesh
30
Madhya Pradesh
20
Chandigarh
20
Telangana
20
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 17
  Assam 43,000
  West Bengal 42,000
  Sikkim 7,500
  Meghalaya 5,700
  Arunachal Pradesh 900
  Manipur 800
  Nagaland 500
  Mizoram 90
  Uttarakhand 90
  Andaman and Nicobar 40
  Uttar Pradesh 40
  Himachal Pradesh 30
  Madhya Pradesh 20
  Chandigarh 20
  Telangana 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.25 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
3.04 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
83.64 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
13.07 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nepali (59,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Bengali
13,000
Assamese
9,800
Sunwar
4,000
Hindi
700
Primary Language Nepali (59,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Bengali 13,000
  Assamese 9,800
  Sunwar 4,000
  Hindi 700
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2012)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali 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 New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Photo Source Dskoich - Wikimedia  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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