Poumai in India

Introduction / History

Poumais are among the many Naga tribes of India’s northeastern states. They live in Nagaland and Manipur. Poumai is the name of their language.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Poumais are settled farming. They also make pottery, produce salt, and trade with others. Some have migrated to urban centers for education and jobs.

Many of their festivals involve the agricultural cycle. That includes Laonii, which is about rice planting. Festivals involve music, dance, rituals, and feasts.

Traditionally, boys and girls live in separate dormitories where they learned social norms and oral traditions. One of their beliefs is in the sacredness of land and the need for mutual aid.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Though they still have traditional religious underpinnings, almost all Poumais identify as Christian. They are often marginal in their beliefs; faith is often in something other than Christ.

What Are Their Needs?

There are sometimes land disputes, sometimes leading to violence.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to guide the Poumais into new and better ways to make a living than subsistence farming.
Pray for Poumai family leaders and elders to have the spiritual hunger it takes to make Jesus first no matter what the cost.
Pray for a pure and vibrant faith in Poumai families and churches.
Pray that soon Poumais will take up the call to bring Christ to Tibetan Buddhists.

Text Source:   Joshua Project