Janughanta in India
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Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
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| People Name: | Janughanta |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 1,900 |
| World Population: | 1,900 |
| Primary Language: | Odia |
| Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Hindu - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Janughantas are a caste of mendicant beggars. Their name comes from their habit of tying a bell (ghanta) to their knees (janu) which they ring as they approach a community to tell them it's time to offer alms. When begging they carry an ax as a reminder of Parasurama, a great warrior they consider themselves to be a descendent of whom also carried an ax. Though they consider themselves to be from the Brahman caste, others would not agree.
Where Are they Located?
The Hindu Janughanta live in a few villages of Cuttack and Puri districts of Odisha.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The Janughanta live in small communities in both nuclear and extended families. They practice adult marriage, and the marriages are monogamous, meaning there is one husband and one wife.
They are a landless community that survives mostly by begging, but sometimes through working as day laborers.
This people group is not known for their arts or crafts, though they maintain their oral traditions through their own music.
What Are Their Beliefs?
These mendicants have sacred specialists from their own community, and they worship a variety of family, village and local deities.
What Are Their Needs?
They need to find a constructive way to earn a living. Like all over people groups, the Janughanta community needs to have the chance to seek and find the only Savior, Jesus Christ.
Prayer Points
Pray that the sheer wonder of knowing Jesus and the impact He has on their lives and the joy He brings spur believers to share Christ with the Janughanta people.
Pray the hearts of the Janughanta people would be stirred by a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit readying them for the time when they hear the gospel message being shared with them.
Pray they will experience dreams and visions of Jesus leading their families into a saving relationship with Him.
Pray for an unstoppable disciple-making movement among Janughanta families.