Darjee in India

Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Darjee
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 59,000
World Population: 607,900
Primary Language: Nepali
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 2.50 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Dalit - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

A migrant community, the Darjee are sometimes known as Damai. They speak Nepali. Most Darjee people live in Nepal, but many have migrated to India's northeastern states or Bhutan.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The traditional occupation of the Darjee is tailoring. They are non-vegetarian, and rice is their staple cereal. The Darjee women play a significant role in their economy by plucking tea leaves in tea gardens for wages. The Darjee are traditional musicians.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They regard the Kuldevta as their household deity and also worship Vandevta.

What Are Their Needs?

The Darjee people need better schools so they can improve their literacy rate and get better jobs.

They need workers to carry the gospel of Christ to these people, especially in oral form. Several exposures to the gospel message are usually required before people accept Christ on his terms.

Prayer Points

Pray for the few followers of Christ among this low caste community, that they will follow Christ with zeal and holiness.
Pray these Christian believers will be rooted and established in love so his name will be glorified.
Pray for the Darjee community to increasingly be drawn to the man Jesus Christ, to be curious about him and his teachings.
Pray that God will overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of his gospel.

Text Source:   Joshua Project