The Dowaniya people are closely related to the Singhpo people who fled Burma in 1793. The ancestors of the Dowaniya people were also among those early Singhpo settlers. The Singhpo who were released from being serfs eventually morphed into the Dowaniya people. Their languages and histories share similarities. The Dowaniya usually speak Hindi and Assamese and use the Assamese script for writing.
Today the Indian government has not recognized the Dowaniya as a scheduled tribe, so their unofficial designation has caused them to be largely forgotten by the outside world.
Members of the Dowaniya community live in the north-east Indian state of Assam. They inhabit a number of different locations on the Assam plain, but many live in the district of Sibsagar, a short distance from the Brahmaputra River.
The Dowaniya people retain their traditional customs to this day. They have managed to keep the all-pervading Hindu culture at arm's length, especially those Dowaniya living further away from the towns. One source notes that they are experts in woodcraft, basketry and weaving.
When the Singhpo first entered India, they brought their belief in Theravada Buddhism with them. Most Dowaniya have continued as Buddhists, although their faith is now mixed with Hinduistic and animistic influences. They have their own Buddhist monks, who preside over birth rituals, weddings and funerals, and are also entrusted with the preservation of the ancient Buddhist texts.
There are no known Christian believers among the Dowaniya people. Throughout their long and troubled history, they have been waiting to hear the good news that Jesus loves them and has made a way for them to know the true God.
Pray for workers to go to the Dowaniya people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.
Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.
Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that results in thousands of new believers who share their faith with others.
Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.
Scripture Prayers for the Dowaniya in India.
Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Dowaniya |
People Name in Country | Dowaniya |
Pronunciation |
doh-AH-nee-ah
|
Alternate Names | Diyang; Dumeha; Gunja; Lingkhi; Ringdo; Viza; डोवनिया |
Population this Country | 3,400 |
Population all Countries | 3,400 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19194 |
ROP3 Code | 115491 |
ROP25 Code | 302189 |
ROP25 Name | Dowaniya |
Country | India | ||
Region | Asia, South | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Location in Country | Approximately 3,000 members of the Dowaniya community live in the north-east Indian state of Assam. They inhabit a number of different locations on the Assam plain, but many live in the district of Sibsagar, a short distance from the Brahmaputra River. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 | ||
Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | ||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | Approximately 3,000 members of the Dowaniya community live in the north-east Indian state of Assam. They inhabit a number of different locations on the Assam plain, but many live in the district of Sibsagar, a short distance from the Brahmaputra River.. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Total States | 1 |
Assam 3,400 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
100.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Assamese (1,300 speakers) | |||
Language Code | asm Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Assamese (1,300 speakers) |
Language Code | asm Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Hindi 100 | |
People Groups | Speaking Assamese |
Primary Language: Assamese
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1822-1974) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1819-1993) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1833-2022) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Rita Willaert - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |