Turi (Hindu traditions) 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 Turi are a Dravidian Hindu group of people who live in northeast India and Bangladesh. These Turi are not to be confused with the Turi Pashtun tribe who live in Pakistan and Gujarat.

The traditional occupation of the Hindu Turi is that of making useful things from bamboo. These items include many types of baskets, mats, hats and furniture. Other Turi work as landless agricultural laborers.

The Turi are a Scheduled Caste, meaning that they are eligible for special consideration in public jobs and in university admissions. Illiteracy is an issue among the Turi. Over one third of them are unable to read or write.

The primary language of the Turi people is Hindi. Other Turi speak Bengali and other regional Indian languages.


Where Are they Located?

Most Turi live in the northeast Indian states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar. Other smaller groups live throughout the nations of India and Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Turi lead challenging lives. Many other groups of Hindus will not associate with them or accept water or food from them. They are frequently not allowed to live in inter-caste villages. They are thought to be outcastes.

The Turi often struggle to put food on the table for their families. With the introduction of international trade, the Turi's bamboo products are not as much in demand as they used to be. The Turi who work on farms are often at the mercy of the landowner.

The Turi marry within their caste but not within their clan or gotra. Families arrange marriages. In past times, the Turi girl babies were contracted in marriage soon after their births. This practice of child marriage is fortunately disappearing.

Sons inherit the property of their fathers. Newly married couples live with or near the groom's parents. The Turi bury their dead.

The main foods of the Turi are rice, curries, vegetables, other grains and fruit. As Hindus, the Turi do not eat beef.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all Turi practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Their principal deity is Singbonga or the sun, the great god of the Mundas. The Mundas are the larger group of people from which the Turi originated.

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. The Turi are often denied entrance into Hindu temples due to their low class designation. The Turi offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods at their own shrines. They employ their own priests, as Brahmins will not serve at their important life events.

The main yearly holidays of the Turi people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights and Navratri, the celebration of autumn.

There are a small number of Christian and Buddhist Turi.


What Are Their Needs?

The Turi people have pressing needs. They need help in educating their children. They need help in acquiring electricity, access to clean water and indoor plumbing. They need help in gaining new job skills. Most of all the Turi needs to hear and believe in the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that God turns the Turi away from Hinduism and into the loving arms of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
Pray for Turi families and communities to discover and embrace the free gift of life found by trusting Christ and his finished work.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully through those Christians ministering to the Turi people.


Scripture Prayers for the Turi (Hindu traditions) in India.


References

http://indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Turi
ethnologue.com/language/trd


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Turi (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Turi (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation TOO-ree
Alternate Names Ankjo; Barot; Basor; Betra; Bonud; Bunous; Manghi; Sardar; Sarder; Turi Barot; टर
Population this Country 414,000
Population all Countries 445,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 8
People ID 18273
ROP3 Code 113817
ROP25 Code 308372
ROP25 Name Turi
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 16
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Jharkhand
235,000
West Bengal
42,000
Bihar
36,000
Assam
33,000
Gujarat
18,000
Odisha
14,000
Himachal Pradesh
12,000
Chhattisgarh
11,000
Rajasthan
5,900
Tripura
4,700
Arunachal Pradesh
1,400
Maharashtra
600
Madhya Pradesh
500
Andaman and Nicobar
200
Chandigarh
50
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 16
  Jharkhand 235,000
  West Bengal 42,000
  Bihar 36,000
  Assam 33,000
  Gujarat 18,000
  Odisha 14,000
  Himachal Pradesh 12,000
  Chhattisgarh 11,000
  Rajasthan 5,900
  Tripura 4,700
  Arunachal Pradesh 1,400
  Maharashtra 600
  Madhya Pradesh 500
  Andaman and Nicobar 200
  Chandigarh 50
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.05 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.13 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.80 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.02 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (212,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 24
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bengali
43,000
Assamese
22,000
Gujarati
15,000
Magahi
12,000
Odia
11,000
Chhattisgarhi
6,100
Sadri
5,100
Bhojpuri
4,800
Maithili
4,200
Marwari
2,800
Kangri
2,000
Digaro-Mishmi
1,600
Turi
1,500
Mundari
1,200
Angika
1,100
Primary Language Hindi (212,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 24
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bengali 43,000
  Assamese 22,000
  Gujarati 15,000
  Magahi 12,000
  Odia 11,000
  Chhattisgarhi 6,100
  Sadri 5,100
  Bhojpuri 4,800
  Maithili 4,200
  Marwari 2,800
  Kangri 2,000
  Digaro-Mishmi 1,600
  Turi 1,500
  Mundari 1,200
  Angika 1,100
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
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Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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Photo Source Gerald Roberts 
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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