Introduction / History
The Kurunga people are a scheduled caste living in Odisha. Scheduled Castes have low status. They are closely allied with the Dom, another scheduled caste. They are subdivided into smaller groups based on their ancient myths. A common surname for them is either Sena or Dolvi.

What are their lives like?
Their traditional role was to castrate bulls and goats, but they are much more likely to be carpenters or agricultural laborers today. A small number own land for farming. Because they are seldom landowners, they don’t have the funds for meat. They eat two meals a day made up of rice, pulses and sometimes vegetables.

Seldom do they marry for love; marriages are arranged by the families. The boy’s family and the girl’s family leaders try to find out about the economic standing of potential mates for their children. After the wedding, the wife goes to live with her husband’s family. Most families are nuclear, meaning there is a husband, a wife and their children.

Women have low status, and a daughter has no inheritance from her father’s estate. She must do all her household chores, earn money by selling bangles and take care of children. Daughters are considered an economic liability because of the dowry system.

Surprisingly, they no longer have a village council. Nor do they remember their traditional folk songs.

What are their beliefs?
The Kurunga people worship a variety of Hindu gods. They also have local deities such as Drith Kumari, Hrithkumari and Nilkmari. They are aided in their worship by a Brahmin priest.

What are their needs?
The Kurunga people need to be given the chance to hear the life-changing gospel so they can enjoy life to the full.

Prayer Points
Pray for loving gospel workers to catch a vision for reaching the Kurunga people for Jesus and that in God's sovereign timing the hearts of these people would be open and ready to follow him.

Pray for Jesus movements to bless extended families so the gospel will spread rapidly.

Pray for the spiritual lives of Kurunga Christians to become fruitful so others will be drawn to Jesus Christ.

References
People of India, Vol 16. K.S. Singh. 2013