People group profile · PG042138
The Sillekyatha of India
The Sillekyatha of India, numbering about 35,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Scheduled Caste of Belagavi, Vijayapura, Dharwad, and Ballari districts, Karnataka, who migrated from Maharashtra, traditionally performers of shadow-puppet plays based on the epics. Metal-work and agriculture supplement this craft.
They are an indigenous people in the Marathi-Konkani people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Marathi.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 35,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Marathi-Konkani
- Primary language
- Marathi (mar)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC ?
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh states; Maharashtra: Belgaum, Bidar, and Karnataka districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Sillekyatha are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Sillekyatha
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
97% adherents
Primary language
Marathi · Indo-European family
100% speak Marathi
Gospel resources in Marathi
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
Bibles
- 1993 Bible League International · audio, text
- Marathi New India Bible Version · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Sillekyatha
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
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