Kunbi Khedule in India

Kunbi Khedule
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Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Kunbi Khedule
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 20,000
World Population: 20,000
Primary Language: Marathi
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 Hindu - Kunbi
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Kunbi (alternate names of Reddi and Desai) are a prominent community of Gujarat. Traditionally the Reddy belong to the fourth of the Hindu Varnas, Sudra. This is the servant group. One of their subgroups is the Kedule Kunbi.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The majority of the Kunbi communities are non-vegetarian, and all the communities take rice as their staple cereal. Jowar, wheat, bajra and ragi are the other grains they eat. Both men and women smoke a homemade cheroot (chutta) which results in a high incidence of mouth and throat cancer.
The Kunbi community have social divisions such as clans, lineage, subcastes and sects. These social divisions regulate marital alliances. The Kunbi allow for cross-cousin marriages. They allow widows to remarry. Being a dominant community, they are often landlords and landholders. Those less fortunate are paid laborers. Social control is regulated through traditional caste and village councils.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindu by faith and worship many deities. Their main festivals are Ugadi, Akshade and Dussehra. They play bhajans and kirtans.

What Are Their Needs?

The Kunbi fear Christianity as an invading religious system to their families and communities. They need open hearts and open minds to allow the King of kings to bless their families.

Prayer Points

Pray for the salvation of the Kunbi people and that God may send several Christian workers to work among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.
Pray for the Kunbi Christians to reach out to their own people.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead them to the cross and the empty grave for answers.

Text Source:   Joshua Project