Gond of India

Population:  13,170,000

Primary Language:  Hindi

Primary Religion:  Hinduism (93.89%)

Christian/Evangelical:  1.00% / not available

Persecution Rank:  32

Status:  Less than 2% Evangelical; widespread church planting within past 2 years

Gonds are agriculturists and choose to live on the riverbeds close to forests. Most of them possess agricultural land. Those who have a good portion of the land cultivate rice, javar (cereals) and green dal (pulses). Tending goats and cattle are also common. Poorer Gonds work in the fields of the richer Gonds. There is not much work available for them except in farming seasons. If at all there is any work, men get about Rs. 25 and women Rs.20 as a day’s wage (that’s 38 and 47 cents respectively).

All farmers offer sacrifices at the end of each harvest. The size of the yield determines the size of the animal offered.  For farmers, monsoons not only bring showers, but also sicknesses. They believe that evil spirits are the causes for sicknesses. Sacrifices are believed to be powerful to keep away these evil spirits. The Southern Gonds prefer witch doctors even when a Public Health Centre is accessible.

Though the Gonds pride themselves on their ancient heritage of rulers, they now tend sheep to make a living. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep and calls them by name. Pray that the Gonds would respond to their Shepherd.

Prayer Points

• Pray that the Gond  would see the futility of their sacrifices, superstitions, festivals, and false idols, and humbly turn and submit themselves to the one, true God.
• Pray for ministers of the gospel to go to the Gond people and faithfully and unashamedly proclaim the good news which is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
• Pray that our worthy God will be exalted among the Gond of India. God has said to His Son:

“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.” – Psalm 2:8

This information was gathered from Joshua Project.  For more go to Operation World.