Malakuravan in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Malakuravan are a group of Hindu peoples who live in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. They consider the founder of their caste Nishad, a boatman featured in the Ramayana. Their traditional occupation was that ferrying pilgrims across and along the holy river Ganges. The Mallah have pride in their service and deem it to be a holy calling.

The majority of the Malakuravan today live near the rivers of India where they fish, farm and ferry people across the waterways if no bridge is present. The Mallah fall into the fourth level caste of Hinduism, the Sudras, who gain their living through manual labor.

The Indian government considers the Malakuravan to be a backward caste because of the high amount of illiteracy among them. Children often must drop out of school and work at an early age due to the poverty of their parents.

The primary language of the Malakuravan is Hindi. They also speak many other languages depending upon where they live in India.


Where Are they Located?

The majority of Malakuravan live in north and northeast India in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Malakuravan people are mostly a poor, illiterate people. They are involved in boating, fishing and sometimes in farming. They are strict about marrying within their own caste.

Sons inherit their father's property. The women are not often seen in public, although at times in Hindu pilgrimage areas such as Allahabad or Varanasi, you will see children and women of this caste selling flowers and incense for river worship purposes. They are considered a backward caste and have low status in the Hindu world.

The Malakuravan are not vegetarians but will not eat beef. Their main foods are rice, fish, grains, vegetables and fruit. Meat is often reserved for special occasions like Hindu holidays and festivals.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Malakuravan people are Hindus. Hinduism is the ancient religion of India. They often have a pragmatic approach to spiritual matters. They will worship or placate any god whom the believe will provide them with protection and economic favor.

The Malakuravan worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Malakuravan people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Malakuravan need help in educating their children. They also need help in learning new job skills so that they can participate in India's modern economy. Most of all, they need to hear and understand the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and bring them a new abundant life.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers to go to the Malakuravan people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their Savior.
Pray for networks of believing Malakuravan families and fellowships that will throw the doors open for others to follow Jesus.
Pray for the Lord to bless the families among the Malakuravan people with His presence and mercy.


Scripture Prayers for the Malakuravan in India.


References

https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/mallah/
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17432/IN
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mallaah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5cd95W_X8M


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Malakuravan
People Name in Country Malakuravan
Alternate Names Malai Kuravan; Malai Kuravar; Malakkuravan; माला कुरवाँ
Population this Country 1,400
Population all Countries 1,400
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17429
ROP3 Code 112832
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Tamil Nadu
1,000
Kerala
200
Puducherry
100
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Tamil Nadu 1,000
  Kerala 200
  Puducherry 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (900 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Malayalam
300
Tulu
Primary Language Tamil (900 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Malayalam 300
  Tulu 10
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
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Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
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General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
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Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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