Assam state (together with eight other states) is fairly isolated from central India, linked only by a small area between Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The culture, population, and religious beliefs of the Assamese have been greatly affected over the years by the countries that surround them.

Those who live in Assam do not suffer from the extreme heat that plagues much of India. On the contrary, very mild temperatures are enjoyed throughout the year. Assam is primarily rural land consisting of river valleys, plains, and forests. Unfortunately, flooding and earthquakes are common occurrences. Wild elephants roam freely in the area, while domesticated elephants often are used as a means of transportation.

What are their lives like?
Most of the Assamese live in villages, and only a small fraction live in towns or cities. More than half of the villagers are farmers. Rice is the principal crop, followed by tea and a fibrous Indian plant called jute. Mustard plants, potatoes, and fruits are also grown. Because the area has an abundance of rain, the farmers are able to produce rice year-round. About half of India's tea is grown on plantations that are located in Assam.

Other occupations that are held by Assamese villagers include small shops, fishing, and basket weaving. Those living in towns sometimes work as school teachers or office assistants.

Assamese villages are typically surrounded by groves of bamboo, banana, and mango trees. Each farmer has a kett or rice plot, on the swampy plains near his home. This enables him to keep an eye on the rice fields year-round.

Although only a few of the Assamese live in cities or towns, the cities play an important role in the lives of the villagers. Markets, bazaars, parks, and cinemas attract and entertain those living in rural areas. Hospitals and universities provide important services for them as well.

Hindu girls living in Assam have long, glossy, black hair. They are usually engaged by the time they are 11 or 12 years old, and marry by the time they turn 14. Horoscopes are commonly used to find mates for the children.

What are their beliefs?
About 80% of the Assamese are Hindus. However, because of the various belief systems that have been integrated into their culture, their Hindu practices are often unorthodox.

Some of the Assamese have combined animism (the belief that non-living objects have spirits) with Hinduism. Others eat meat, which is strictly forbidden in Hinduism. They may also refuse to worship elephants, as is customary among Hindus.

Nevertheless, many of the well-educated Assamese (those belonging to the upper class of the Hindu "caste system") are devout, orthodox Hindus. They observe every ritual without compromise, such as bathing before each meal and eating rice from brass dishes. They also typically name their children after Hindu gods and heroes.

For the most part, almost every aspect of daily life for the Assamese reflects Hinduism. Eating, finding a mate, planting in the fields, and celebrating festivals are all done according to Hindu custom. They worship millions of gods, some of which are animals. They also trust in astrology to determine their fates. Practices such as meditation are often used to "open their minds."

What are their needs?
Currently, there are eight missions agencies working among the Assamese of India. The Jesus film, Christian radio broadcasts, and the Bible are already available in the Asami language. However, despite all of this, less than 1% of them have accepted Jesus as their Savior. Much prayer is needed to pull down the strongholds that are keeping them bound.

Prayer Points

• Pray against the spirit of Hinduism that is keeping the Assamese bound.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will break up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies targeting the Assamese.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to complete the work begun in the hearts of the Assamese believers through adequate discipleship.
• Pray for effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Assamese.
• Ask God to anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio in the Asami language.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will create a hunger in the hearts of the Assamese to know the one true God.
• Pray that God will reveal Himself to them through dreams and visions.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Assamese by the year 2000.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Assamese
• Country: India
• Their language: Asami
• Population: (1990) 13,902,600
  (1995) 15,293,500
  (2000) 16,703,600
• Largest religion: Hindu 80%
  Muslim (Hanafite) 16.4%
  Nonreligious 3.5%
• Christians: <1%
• Church members: 15,294
• Scriptures in their own language: Bible
• Jesus Film in their own language: Available
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: Available
• Mission agencies working among this people: 8
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 7,815,000 (52%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 780,000 (6%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 7,035,000 (46%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 7,478,500 (48%)

• Country: India
• Population: (1990) 850,638,100
  (1995) 935,744,300
  (2000) 1,022,021,300
• Major peoples in size order: Hindi (High Hindi) 9.5%
  Telegu 7.8%
  Maratha 7.4%
  Bengali 6.4%
  Hindi (Bazaar, Popular) 5.5%
• Major religions: Hindus 78.2%
  Muslims 12%
  Christians 4.3%
• Number of denominations: 163