Most of the Bandi people live in India's southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In the latter state, they are called Banda, meaning "rock." They claim the status of Sudras, the lowest of the four caste levels. Traditionally they have worked as village servants. They did a variety of odd jobs from cleaning copper pots to pounding rice, to collecting firewood to cleaning floors. Today they are more likely to be involved in agricultural work or to work for the government. Few own land. They are dependent on moneylenders, which means that they are not likely to get out of debt or poverty. However, they are fortunate enough to have electricity and well water in their communities.

Pray that the Bandi people will soon encounter the Risen Christ.

* Scripture Prayers for the Bandi (Hindu traditions) in India.

Some information from "The Scheduled Castes" K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)