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. One section of the Kunbi are the Konkani speakers.
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 cereals 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.
They are Hindus who worship many deities. Their main festivals are Ugadi, Akshade and Dussehra. They play bhajans and kirtans at these festivals.
The Kunbi fear Christianity as an invading religious system to their families and communities. They need hearts that do not fear coming close to the King of kings.
Pray 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 them to have the spiritual hunger it takes to stand for Jesus even in the face of community pressure.
Scripture Prayers for the Kunbi Konkani in India.
India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
