Vettiyan in India

Vettiyan
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Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Vettiyan
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 500
World Population: 500
Primary Language: Tamil
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: No
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Dalit - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Vettiyan people have developed into four lineages from four brothers, and one common ancestor.

Where Are they Located?

This Hindu community lives in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Vettiyan people live in colonies of land divided between 33 households. This division identifies them. Each household is named after a god whom they worship and venerate within their homes. They are not well accepted among other castes for various cultural reasons. Their name means "to cut or chop," which alludes to their agricultural work. An alternate definition is "digger," referring to their work as grave diggers. They have a head man who guards the community from thieves.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Vettiyan people are completely Hindu in their religion. There are no Christians among them.

What Are Their Needs?

Vettiyan people have many needs, their most serious being spiritual. They are very poor and disrespected, suffering every related deficiency within their culture. Basic needs are perhaps open doors of opportunity for those who would be sent by God's Holy Spirit to reach people of peace who would welcome Bible resources in Tamil, their spoken language.

Prayer Points

Pray for gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Vettiyan people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing their hearts would be open and ready to follow Him.
Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended Vettiyan families so the gospel will spread rapidly among this people group.
Pray for the spiritual lives of the Vettiyan people to become fruitful as they follow Christ.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Vettiyan people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel, and for the beauty of Jesus to be seen in them.

Text Source:   Keith Carey