Chhattisgarh

Considered the "Home of the Tribals," the state of Chattisgarh in central India is surrounded by mountains and flowing rivers. Nearly 21 million people live in the state, which has one of the largest tribal populations in the world.

Chattisgarh was formerly the southeastern corner of the state of Madhya Pradesh. However, in 2000 it broke away to become its own state. Its geographic area of 83,947 square miles is approximately one-third the former size of Madhya Pradesh. The primary language is Hindi (80%), followed by Gondi (10%).

Most people in this state are Hindu (92.4%), and less than one percent are Christian. Chattisgarh's largest tribe, the Gond, is only two percent Christian. In Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh combined, there are 8.6 million Gond (out of 10.5 million in all of India). More than 30 missions agencies are reaching out to them with the Gospel. Most tribal groups in the state practice witchcraft and a Hindu-based animism (the belief that animals and inanimate objects have souls).

Despite local and statewide opposition to the Gospel, house churches are multiplying. In Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the number of churches planted increased by 500 percent from 1993 to 2000. Because Chattisgarh's tribals have a high illiteracy rate, personal evangelism and film outreach are the most effective ways to convey the Gospel.