Introduction / History

Kammara is on of the tribes that is said to contain some Syrian Christians with links to the Syrian Jacobite Church. Descendants are traditionally believed to have been evangelized by the apostle Thomas.

Kammara people are also called Konda Kammara, and Ojas.

Where Are they Located?

Kammara people are located in Kerala, a state in southwestern India. They live in parts of East and West Godavari, Srikakulam, Viziananagaram, and Visakhapatnam regions.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Kammara people keep their own culture and traditions. They have good relations with other local tribes, and do agricultural work with them. They are also blacksmiths, carpenters, cultivators, and food gatherers in their rural community. They speak their own language along with Tamil and Telugu.

Kammara people celebrate festivals and special occasions with their own songs and folk dancing. They also celebrate new crop eating festivals and ceremonies. Other local tribes join them when it is festival time. The families of both the bride and the groom make decisions regarding marriages. They wear colorful clothing during weddings and social events. During such times Kammara women wear saris and brightly colored flowers. They braid and twist their hair and pierce their noses.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Kammara people are animistic in their beliefs, although a number follow Hinduism or Buddhism. The fact that they speak Tamil and Telugu is important, because numerous Bible audio and visual resources are available in these larger languages.

What Are Their Needs?

Their family, community, and inter-tribal events may be an opportunity for those who know God's truth to earn the privilege to speak into their community. Kammara people need to be liberated from traditions of caste that hinder receiving the Savior who died in their place.

Prayer Points

Pray that loving servants of Jesus Christ will lay down their lives to work alongside Kammara farmers and tradesmen to influence them by their Holy Spirit indwelt lives.

Pray that Tamil and Telugu Bible resources, ie. the JESUS Film, GRN recordings, will be successfully introduced to Kammara communities.

Pray that Kammara people will see past their traditional worship and celebrations and experience a growing desire to know the truth of God's word.

Pray for church planting and Disciple-Making Movements to spring up among the Kammara people.

Scripture Prayers for the Kammara in India.

References

www.indianetzone.com/9/kammara_tribe.htm