Mala Dasari in India

Mala Dasari
Photo Source:  Copyrighted © 2024
International Mission Board-SBC - M Krishna Murthy  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Mala Dasari
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 37,000
World Population: 37,000
Primary Language: Telugu
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
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

The Dasari people speak a form of Telugu. They live in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Their traditional work is in temple service. They perform death rites in burial grounds as their main occupation. Some of them work as day laborers. They are landless. Some of the Dasari Mala work in business and agriculture. They use both modern and traditional medicines. They are not vegetarians and eat rice as a staple food.

The Dasari Mala prefer marriage between cousins. The bereaved and divorced can marry again. The dead are buried rather than cremated like most Hindus. On the death of the father, sons inherit the property with the oldest son taking charge of the family estate. They observe birth and marriage rituals.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Hinduism is their religion, but they also worship their ancestors.

What Are Their Needs?

The Dasari Mala people need to put their hope in the King of kings, realizing that he is the one who gives them worth and dignity.

Prayer Points

Pray that God gives them dreams and visions leading them to Jesus Christ.

Pray that Indian Christians and gospel materials will help them begin their own discipleship movement.

Pray for spiritual hunger and a thirst for Christ's righteousness.

Text Source:   Joshua Project