Day 29 - The Tetiya Dihati Nationality 

Concentrated in Sarlahi district of Nepal below the East/West highway and in parts of Rautahat and Siraha. They are also located in the Indian. state of Bihar.

The Tetiya are a group of people who live in the plains or "terai" of Nepal, just above the Indian state of Bihar. Their physical characteristics and their culture are very similar and closely related to the peoples of India. The term "Dihati" means Indian. Due to their "Indian look" they are discriminated against by the majority population in Nepal. The Tetiyas and other Dihati groups often do not think of themselves as Nepalis, though they live in Nepal, due to these close ties with India. 

The Tetiya speak their own language which is closely related to Maithili. Tetiyas will intermarry and mix with other Dihati groups such as the Maithili or Bhojpuri. They are Hindus and strictly adhere to the Hindu caste system. There are many castes among them such as the Brahman (priestly) caste, the caste who do carpentry, those who farm vegetables and those who are considered untouchable. They will not eat with or intermarry across these caste barriers. 

The village Tetiyas are notorious for their fighting between caste and political parties. Verbal or physical fights between neighbors or family members is common. Parent arranged child marriages are still practiced. Most Tetiya males marry at the age of 15 and females around age 11, but it is not unusual for girls to marry at age 8 or 9. 

Women are very subservient and put down amongst this group. A wife is seen as a worker or cook and her mother and father-in-law dictate to her whatever work needs to be done. 

Only a tiny percentage of Tetiya people have heard the name of Jesus and the basic gospel message. Most Tetiyas have no idea who Jesus is. There have been two or three small house churches started amongst them in one area. Those accepting the Lord can experience ostracism, physical abuse and the destruction of their property or homes. 

Key Prayer Points: