Sagarbanshi 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: | Sagarbanshi |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 199,000 |
| World Population: | 199,000 |
| 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
Sagarbanshi is a tribal people group. Most live either in West Bengal or Odisha. They are especially concentrated in the Sundarbans region. The Sundarban is a huge mangrove forest in eastern India and Bangladesh. Because of their tribal ways, isolation and poverty, the Sagarbanshi have low status in Hindu India.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Some are farmers and fishermen. They collect and sell honey and other valuable goods they find in the forest.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Sagarbanshi spirituality can best be described as animistic. They worship the forest itself and the animals they see. The Bengal tiger is their god.
What Are Their Needs?
The Sagarbanshi community is facing serious problems like land erosion. Their land is easily taken from them given their lack of political power. That means they must move out of their homeland.
Prayer Points
Pray for the Lord to bless this community economically and spiritually.
Ask God to raise up Sagarbanshi who are more desirous to know the truth than to stay on the broad road.
Ask God to send loving, committed workers to the Sagarbanshi in the near future.
Pray the Sagarbanshi would no longer be hidden away from the influence of Christ.
Pray for many of them to make disciples who will make even more disciples.