Introduction / History
The tribe known as the Anal is a Scheduled Tribe in India. That means they are eligible for public jobs and special consideration for university admissions. They live in the northeast section of India in the state of Manipur. The Anal declared themselves as Nagas in 1963. The Nagas are a large group of indigenous peoples who live in northeast India. According to legend, the Pakan community split into four groups:the Anal, the Lamkang, the Monsang and the Moyon. A complete Bible is available in the Anal’s language. Many of them need to learn to read and write. Almost all of the Anal claim to be followers of Jesus Christ.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The Anal, like all other tribal people of the region, live a relatively simple life. They make their living by farming and animal husbandry. The Anal have a patriarchal type of family. The society is divided into two tribal divisions known as "Khul." By preference a man will try to marry his cousin, his mother's brother's daughter. Brides are acquired by arranged marriage or by eloping. A bride price is paid in cash by the prospective husband and his family to the bride’s family. The Anal communicate within the tribe using their own Anal language and use Meitei for communication outside their group. The Anal language currently has about 22,000 speakers. The village elders of the Anal are known as the "kholpu." They preside over traditional religious and family ceremonies along with the village shaman and the blacksmith.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Anal tribe once held a belief in a supreme being named Asa Pavan. At present, the overwhelming majority of the population believe that they are Christians. Many of the Anal still believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature. The Anal feel that they must appease these evil spirits or disaster may come upon the people.
What Are Their Needs?
The Anal tribe needs general economic development and higher education. The Anal need to learn new job skills. They need good local schools and teachers for their children. Many villages lack access to electricity, indoor plumbing and modern medicine. They need trained pastors who can teach them the Word of God and how it applies to their lives.
* Scripture Prayers for the Anal in India.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Anal to the Bible. Ask the Lord to provide trained, spiritually mature pastors for their churches. Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Anal people this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to help them with their physical and spiritual needs. Pray that the Anal learn to read so that they can read the Bible for themselves.