r/Christianity • u/Creative-Dig-788 • 14h ago

Video Simdega, Jharkhand 🇮🇳

Simdega is the only district in India outside of the Northeast india with a Christian-majority population.

70.78% of Simdega District’s Population Belongs to Tribal Communities

296 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

16

u/GlassShirt9072 13h ago

I'm from India. i have no idea jharkand having such a huge christian majority.

11

u/Creative-Dig-788 13h ago

Christians make up over 51% of Simdega's population. Nearby districts like Gumla and Khunti in Jharkhand, Jashpur in Chhattisgarh, and Sundargarh in Odisha also have significant Christian populations. Interestingly, Jharkhand ranks 5th among Indian states in terms of total Christian population, with around 14.19 lakh Christians.

Christianity spread among many tribal communities in this region during the British colonial period, largely through missionary activities, education, and healthcare. Catholic and Lutheran missions had a significant influence, particularly among tribes, and Catholicism has a strong presence in the region. These neighbouring districts share a rich history of tribal cultures and Christian communities.

16

u/EDC-JAKE 13h ago

Christ Is King Praise And Glory To His Holy Name His Will Be Done AMEN! 🙏✝️💯

4

u/AffectionateFunny998 13h ago

amen always beautiful to see communities keeping their faith and traditions alive across generations

7

u/Shay_11_11 13h ago

Our God is the only God.

2

u/Sertorius126 12h ago

Will the Indians once converted continue in the vein of American Evangelical Music? Interesting video!

6

u/PavanayiShavamayilla 11h ago

It depends on the missionaries. In south India, there is a significant Catholic population. Descendants of those converted by St. Thomas the Apostles or Assyrian traders/missionaries.

1

u/Sertorius126 11h ago

Promoting the name of Jesus is #1 and I would love to see indigenous churches pick up the torch that was lit originally for them 2000 years ago by St. Thomas.

1

u/PavanayiShavamayilla 11h ago

It’s absolutely happening. I know that Catholic Churches from Kerala do send priests and nuns to areas like Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, etc. And I know of Catholic missionary groups that go on missions to extremely rural areas.

2

u/Creative-Dig-788 10h ago

No, I don’t see any priests and nuns from Kerala in Jharkhand, northern Chhattisgarh, and northern Odisha. (Bordering district of Jharkhand) Many of the priests and nuns working in missionary schools and universities in these regions come from tribal communities themselves.

Catholicism spread in Jharkhand mainly through Belgian Jesuit missionaries, while Lutheran Christianity was introduced by the Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Mission. Christianity has had a strong presence among tribal communities in these regions for a long time, so it’s not as if they have only recently embraced it.

Yes, I’ve also seen some Believers Church (Kerala) in Jharkhand, but many seem to have been abandoned or have very few members. Apart from South India, Jharkhand is one of the regions that sends a significant number of Catholic priests to serve in other parts of North India.

1

u/PavanayiShavamayilla 10h ago

Two Catholic nuns from Kerala were arrested in 2025 for alleged religious conversion. I’m sure there are missionary attempts, even if the Evangelicals are more prominent.

•

u/Creative-Dig-788 51m ago

Arrested on charges of religious conversion, but after investigation, it was revealed that they were being taken for cooking work. The news came from South Chhattisgarh. Nuns can’t even travel peacefully anymore. Hindutva group created a scene at the railway station, accusing them of taking them away for religious conversions.

•

u/Cherry-Glowo8 3h ago

wow, i didn't realize the catholic population there went all the way back to st. thomas. that's a long history.

1

u/Glum-Assist106 10h ago

it’ll be interesting to see how they blend christian worship with their own local musical traditions

0

u/Due_Ad_3200 Christian 7h ago

They also sing some older hymns in India

https://youtu.be/7vWF_lctSTo

https://youtu.be/mISbGETVr84

2

u/samntha_yo 14h ago

Wow! I have chills. Is this real?!?

5

u/Creative-Dig-788 13h ago

Yes, it’s real

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u/narcowake 56m ago

As a Cultural Indian Christian who was raised fundamentalist Pentecostal, this is dumb… it just brings spotlight and unnecessary persecution by the BJP / Hindutva folks…even though we are only 2% of the population…

0

u/SHEFINMATHEW 13h ago

So u basically converted 70% of them

2

u/PavanayiShavamayilla 11h ago

Most religions consists of converts. Else they’d be worshipping rivers and rocks.

1

u/unpopularpixel6 Ex-Christian 10h ago

Terrible thing to say machane, especially if you're an indian..

1

u/PavanayiShavamayilla 9h ago

I don’t believe in them and think it’s illogical, but I don’t hate others for believing in it.

1

u/[deleted] 9h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/PavanayiShavamayilla 9h ago

Why spend time hating on a sub in a religion you don’t believe in? ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1

u/Christianity-ModTeam 7h ago

Removed for 2.1 - Belittling Christianity.

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-1

u/Due_Ad_3200 Christian 7h ago

Video also on YouTube

https://youtu.be/bADqefJfeg0

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u/JohnAustinSigfried 2h ago

Is there really a problem?