Sora Project

History of Sora:

Sora is one of the ancient tribes of Odisha in the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam and Rayagada, along with a small number living in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. Sora people speak Sora language. The population of Sora people is around 5 lakhs. Their history is intertwined with mentions in Hindu epics like the Ramayana, and they are recognized as one of the oldest tribes in Odisha.

Food habits of Sora People:

The Sora people have a diverse diet, with rice and millet soup (sitri khudu) as staples. They cultivate millets, pulses, and oilseeds, and also consume a variety of vegetables. They consume Arasal Drink, made from the sap of the fishtail palm, it’s a vitamin supplement in the morning and mildly alcoholic later in the day and they use Mahua (Madhuca indica) and Salpa (Caryota urens) to make alcoholic beverages.

Occupation of Sora:

They are known for both shifting cultivation (also known as slash-and-burn agriculture) and terraced cultivation on hillsides. Additionally, they collect forest products, make handicrafts, and increasingly engage in wage labor and settled agriculture.

Cultural Practices:

Sora religion is animistic, with a strong belief in various deities and ancestral spirits. They have a well-developed shamanistic tradition, with male shamans (Kudun) and female shamans (Kudun Boi) playing crucial roles in religious and healing practices. Some Sora have adopted Christianity or Hinduism, leading to a blending of religious practices. The Sora are known for their distinctive Sora paintings, a form of tribal art. Dance and music are integral parts of Sora social life and rituals. A significant community ceremony, the guar ceremony, involves laying stone slabs in memory of the deceased and is marked by feasting, dancing, and buffalo sacrifice. While they are generally endogamous, meaning they marry within their community, they also practice exogamy through the Birinda System. Families are typically nuclear, but extended families are also common.

Education and Christianity:

• Literacy rate is 70%.
• Christian population is 25.%.

IBT Translation Ministry among Sora People:

Rev. Prof. Panneer Selvam had vision give the Bible in the Language. Mr. Susthira Singh joined in the IBT ministry in 2004 and Mr. Gada Mandal joined in the IBT ministry as Sora translator in 2017. They both underwent the translation training and started the translation work in the Sora language. Mr. Susthira Singh retired in 2022 and Mr. Gada Mandal is continuing the translation work.

IBT Publications in Sora Language:

• The Gospel of Mark was released in 2007 and distributed to the respective language speaking people.
• The first copy of the Gospel of Matthew was released by Rev. S.C. Jeyakumar and Mr. Susthira Singh received it on 02.06.2018. The second copy released by Rev. John Rajah and received by Mr. Balachandran.
• Currently New Testament keying and correction is going on and expected to be released in 2028 logos camp.