The Deori Although they have been established in Northeast India for some time, the Deori people remain distinct from many of the peoples around them. The Deori descend from a Mongol people group and have largely avoided interracial/intertribal marriage to preserve their identity. They usually establish villages near rivers, making bamboo homes that are often enlarged to accomodate dozens of extended family members. In addition to this unique practice, the Deori are known for being a cheerful, energetic people. Most Deoris currently follow Hinduism.
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Deori-Map
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Christian: 0.50%
India Population: 52,000
Language: Deori
Major Religion: Hinduism
Status: Unreached
Joshua Project ID: 16621
ER SOE Affiliation: Arunachal Pradesh
Prayer Points
• Pray for Deori families and their communities to know their identity in Christ as a distinct Deori people, created and beloved by God.

• Pray for Y.L. Steward and his team to have unity of purpose in the power of the Holy Spirit as they seek to bridge relationships among the Deori people.
 
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The Devadasi The Devadasi system is an ancient Hindu practice that sells young girls into temple prostitution and a life of sexual exploitation. For most devout Hindus, the Devadasi system is an abhorrent tradition that was outlawed in 1988 by the Indian government. However, there are certain areas of India where it is being practiced illegally, with Devadasi girls and women still held in this awful slavery. The spirit of a temple goddess is believed to inhabit them, and actual possessions have been reported.
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Devadasi
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Evangelical Christian: 0.00%
India Population: 21,000
Language: Kannada
Major Religion: Hinduism
Status: Unreached
Joshua Project ID: 16683
ER SOE Affiliation: Karnataka
Prayer Points
• Pray that the Devadasi will be set free from slavery and will be given opportunities of safety and healing.

• Pray also that our ministry partners will reach the Devadasi to share the freedom found in Christ, so that they may live victoriously as daughters of our Almighty God.
 
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The Dhanuk My people are known as the Dhanuks and we live all across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Some of us are employed to do private housework for landowners. Others of us work as agricultural laborers or farmers. Many of us follow the Hindu faith with certain animistic influences such as belief in magic, witchcraft, and ghosts.
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Dhanuk-map
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Evangelical Christian: 0.01%
India Population: 4,263,000
Language: Hindi
Major Religion: Hinduism
Status: Unreached
Joshua Project ID: 16696
ER SOE Affiliation: Haryana (Chandigarh)
Prayer Points
• Pray that our ministry partner in Haryana (Chandigarh) will have increased opportunity to share the gospel among the Dhanuk people.

• Pray also that the churches and believers among the Dhanuk would be encouraged and strengthened to spread the good news of Jesus.
 
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The Dhimar The Dhimar people are also known by the names of Bhoi, Kahar, Machandar, Baraua, and Palewar. They work in a variety of ways, though many fish or sell produce. They typically follow the Hindu faith, celebrating festivals such as Holi and Diwali. Holi (the festival of colors) is especially important to the Dhimar people because of its emphasis on the triumph of good over evil and the unity shared among people from diverse backgrounds and castes.
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Dhimar
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Christian: 0.01%
India Population: 1,845,000
Language: Hindi
Major Religion: Hinduism
Status: Unreached
Joshua Project ID: 16705
ER SOE Affiliation: Maharashtra
Prayer Points
• Pray that the One True God would reveal Himself as the light that has already triumphed over evil through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• Pray also that our ministry partner in Maharashtra will be encouraged by an increase of Dhimar people of India who proclaim Christ as their Savior.
 
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The Dhobi The Dhobi people traditionally wash and iron clothes for a living. For many, this is difficult labor in high–temperature work conditions with little pay. Some are able to run their own dry–cleaning shops or engage in other occupations. The Dhobi primarily follow the Hindu faith, which includes the concept of “dharma” or “right way of living.” For a Hindu Dhobi, the hope of a better “next life” in the cycle of reincarnation is in remaining rightly dutiful to their place in life—washing and ironing clothes.
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Dhobi-map
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Christian: 0.02%
India Population: 11,904,000
Language: Hindi
Major Religion: Hinduism
Status: Unreached
Joshua Project ID: 16709
ER SOE Affiliation: Rajasthan
Prayer Points
• Pray that our ministry partners in Rajasthan will have increased opportunities to communicate the gospel message that Jesus Christ can wash away our sin.

• Pray also that leaders will be trained among Dhobi believers to establish Kingdom communities among their people.
 
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The Dom The Dom people of India are among the lowest castes according to their surrounding culture. They typically follow the Hindu faith, and believe that they are a people cursed by their gods to a life of poverty for killing a cow in their past lives. As such, they typically work as day laborers, street musicians, or beggars.
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Dom-map
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Christian: 0.10%
India Population: 2,144,000
Language: Odia
Major Religion: Hinduism
Status: Unreached
Joshua Project ID: 16734
ER SOE Affiliation: West Bengal
Prayer Points
• Pray that our ministry partners in West Bengal will have increased opportunity to communicate the gospel message that Jesus Christ has freed us from the guilt of past sin.

• Pray also that they will be freed from systemic poverty in ways that glorify the One True God.
 
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UPG stats and descriptions based on information from joshuaproject.net