Introduction / History

The Ghusuria people speak Odia and Hindi. They live in Bihar and Odisha, states in eastern India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They live in rural areas where they live at a subsistence level tending livestock. Because of their poverty, they depend on moneylenders, which impoverishes them even further. They have a low literacy rate, so their opportunities to advance economically are limited. The Ghusuria people use both modern and traditional medicine.

Perhaps because of their poverty the Ghusuria people are less likely to have bride prices and dowries than other rural peoples in India. However, the groom may have to serve the bride's family for a term. Marriages are arranged by negotiations, and they usually involve the consent of both the bride and the groom.

What Are Their Beliefs?

This Hindu people worship Gomoto, Thakurani, Rajalaxmi, and Raudia. They usually rely on their own sacred specialists, but sometimes they depend on other communities for this service, especially for officiating life cycle rituals. They also employ shamans from other communities.

What Are Their Needs?

The Ghusuria 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 for open hearts, and for loving workers.

Pray that the Ghusuria will turn from darkness to the one who is the light.

Pray for them to embrace the Savior and begin to see physical and spiritual transformation that will be a testimony to the Hindu world. Pray that the many Christian materials in the Odiya language will find their way into Ghusaria communities and Ghusaria hearts.

Scripture Prayers for the Ghusuria in India.