The Tili derive their name from the Sanskrit word talika, or taila, used for the oil extracted from sesame and mustard, thus referring to their traditional occupation. There are many subgroups, perhaps more than 100. Vermilion, bracelets, a finger-ring, ear-rings, and a nose-stud are the symbols of married women, but this varies by location. Marriage is solemnized according to Hindu Vedic rites at the bride's residence. They traditionally do not accept food from lower castes such as the Chamar, Sansi, Gadhilla, Dade, and Bangalee. They are Hindu and worship family, village and regional deities, such as Ganesh, Manasa, Kali, Thakurani, and Gamota. They have sacred specialists from their own and other communities who perform rites connected with life-cycle rituals and who treat diseases.
Most Hindu Tili live in West Bengal. There are believers in this state, but many are nominal believers. There are relatively few thriving, Biblically-based churches.
Most Hindu Tili speak the Bengali language, and there is a wealth of resources available in that language. Please pray for widespread scripture availability, as well as other resources such as Gospel recordings and the Jesus film.
Once the Tili people begin to come to Christ in saving faith they will need disciplers, mature Christians who can help them grow properly in the faith. Please pray this caste group will be given an interest in Jesus, and that they will be accurately taught who he is and what he has done on their behalf. Pray for the light of the Gospel to penetrate the spiritual darkness.
Scripture Prayers for the Tili in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-02-28 |
People Name General | Tili |
People Name in Country | Tili |
Pronunciation | TEE-lee |
Population this Country | 1,268,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,341,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 25 |
Alternate Names | तीली (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 18254 |
ROP3 Code | 113787 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 28 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 28 (only 20 largest shown) |
West Bengal 934,000 | |
Bihar 144,000 | |
Assam 108,000 | |
Jharkhand 30,000 | |
Tripura 22,000 | |
Odisha 8,100 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 4,100 | |
Delhi 2,500 | |
Meghalaya 2,300 | |
Chhattisgarh 2,300 | |
Manipur 1,800 | |
Maharashtra 1,700 | |
Uttar Pradesh 1,700 | |
Nagaland 1,300 | |
Arunachal Pradesh 1,100 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Bengali (871,000 speakers) | |||||||||
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||
Total Languages | 8 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bengali (871,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 8 |
Secondary Languages | |
Hindi 131,000 | |
Assamese 48,000 | |
Angika 13,000 | |
Maithili 11,000 | |
Odia 3,100 | |
Kok Borok 400 | |
Andaman Hindi Creole 400 | |
People Groups | Speaking Bengali |
Primary Language: Bengali
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1800-1980) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1801-1984) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1809-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Film / Video | Following Jesus video |
Film / Video | God's Love Story |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Bengali |
Film / Video | LUMO film of Gospels |
Film / Video | Magdalena video |
Film / Video | My Last Day video, anime |
Film / Video | Rivka video |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 3 - Woman at the Well |
Film / Video | The Savior 8 - Jesus is Risen |
General | Biblical answers to your questions |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
100.00 %
|
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. |