Kunbi Ghatole 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: | Kunbi Ghatole |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 245,000 |
| World Population: | 245,000 |
| Primary Language: | Marathi |
| 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 - Kunbi |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
Ghatole is one of the many subgroups of the Kunbi peoples. Ghatole refers to a hilly range, a description of their traditional homeland. Kunbi is a generic term for non-elite farmers in India's western states. They live in Maharashtra and speak Marathi, the language of this western state. Some also read and write in Devanagari. The men are not vegetarians but the women are.
What Are Their Lives Like?
They work in agriculture while some are day laborers. A good many of them are landowners. When you combine all their subgroups, the Kunbis make up a good percentage of Maharashtra's population, and thus, they have quite a bit of political clout in that state. The Kunbi groups have "Other Backward Caste" or OBG status, which is somewhere in the middle of the Hindu pecking order. They are sometimes associated with the more powerful Marathi community, and they have an ongoing hostile relationship with the less powerful and lower class communities. The Kunbi Ghatole are endogamous. This means they prefer to marry within their community. They have an affinity for cross-cousin marriages. They allow for divorce and remarriage. Adults are cremated but children are buried at death. Sons inherit the property.
What Are Their Beliefs?
They are Hindus. Hindus usually have a pragmatic approach to spirituality, worshipping the gods they believe will offer them aid and protection.
What Are Their Needs?
The Kunbi Ghatole need to become the good seed that produces 40 or 100 fold!
Prayer Points
Pray for faithful workers and intercessors for the Kunbi Ghatole community. Pray for spiritual discernment among their leaders. Pray for a disciple making movement to flourish among them this decade.