The Kashmiri live in Jammu and Kashmir in northwestern India. Kashmir is a breathtaking region located in the western Himalayan Mountains. Unfortunately, this is a highly disputed area. It has been a battleground between India, Pakistan, and China since the partition of the India and Pakistan in 1947.
When India and Pakistan were divided, Jammu and Kashmir was given the choice of siding with either of the two countries. Since the ruling class was Hindu, they sided with India. However, most of the people were Muslims and felt more alliance to Pakistan. Today, parts of Jammu and Kashmir are controlled by India, parts by Pakistan, and parts by China; and fierce fighting continues among the three.
More than ninety percent of Jammu and Kashmir is mountainous. It includes the Karakorum Range, which contains K2, the second highest peak in the world. Most of the region is under snow and glaciers all year due to its extreme elevation.
The Kashmiri primarily live in rural regions, only about one-fifth live in cities. They are descendants of Indo-Aryan immigrants and are generally tall, fair skinned, and have features like the people of Central Asia.
Most of the Kashmiri are peasant farmers. They raise rice, wheat, maize, barley, lentils, and fruits such as apples, peaches, and apricots. The lakes of Jammu and Kashmir supply many fish and water chestnuts. Sheep, goats, and yaks are raised at higher elevations. These flocks produce cashmere, a rich wool that is also very popular in the West. The men primarily tend to the farms, and the women usually stay home and tend to the household chores.
Because most Kashmiri villages lie in such remote areas, festival celebrations and pilgrimages to shrines are times for uniting the communities. The villagers enjoy gathering around a fire and sharing folk tales or ballads. They also enjoy music and dancing. Cricket and soccer have become some of their favorite sports.
Extended families commonly live together. Their house styles vary with the elevation. In mountainous areas where there is much snow, the roofs are triangular and steep. Houses in the rural valley regions often have storage areas for grain, fodder, fuel, wood, leaves, charcoal, and dried dung. All of these materials are necessary when winter conditions become severe. The homes are usually built out of stone, brick, thatch, and timber.
The Kashmiri are very hospitable people and enjoy entertaining guests over tea. Their diet is similar to that of other Indians. Wood, dung, and kerosene are the main sources of fuel for cooking.
In addition to farming, many of the Kashmiri are skilled crafters of wood furniture, wool carpets, and sweaters. Industrial development is limited in Jammu and Kashmir, but the large number of timber forests and rivers are used for producing hydro-electric power. Tourism is also an important industry, although it has declined in recent years because of the violence in the region.
Most of the Kashmiri are devout Sunni Muslims, who follow a strict code of conduct. Their civilization has been heavily influenced by Muslim mystics and Persian culture. Only a small minority are Hindus.
Kashmiri Muslims are convinced the Bible is wrong when it contradicts the Koran. Those who convert to Christianity are viewed as immoral, degenerate people; Christians in this region are often persecuted. Many Kashmiri have heard of Jesus Christ, but view him merely as a prophet and teacher.
Today, there are few Kashmiri believers. The Islamic stronghold over them will only be broken down through prayer. These precious people who live in a highly volatile area of the world need to meet the Prince of Peace.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through intercession.
Ask the Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and favor to missions agencies focusing on the Kashmiri.
Pray that the God will give Kashmiri believers boldness to share Christ with their own people.
Ask God to deliver the Christians in Jammu and Kashmir from persecution.
Pray for the effectiveness of the Jesus film among the Kashmiri.
Ask God to soften Kashmiri hearts towards the Gospel of Christ.
Pray that God will give these precious people a revelation of who Jesus truly is: their Lord and Christ.
Ask the Lord to bring forth a strong and growing Kashmiri Church for the glory of His name!
Scripture Prayers for the Kashmiri (Muslim traditions) in India.
Profile Source: Bethany World Prayer Center |
People Name General | Kashmiri (Muslim traditions) |
People Name in Country | Kashmiri (Muslim traditions) |
Pronunciation |
kash-MEER-ee
|
Alternate Names | Kashmiri-Punjabi; Keshur; Khoja; Mansoori; Mansoori Muslim; Shia Imami Ismaili; कश्मीरी (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 8,008,000 |
Population all Countries | 9,325,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 160 |
People ID | 12558 |
ROP3 Code | 104709 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Muslim - other |
People Group | Kashmiri (Muslim traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Muslim - other |
People Group | Kashmiri (Muslim traditions) |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 25 (only 15 largest shown) |
Bat 793,000 | |
Dar 521,000 | |
Mir 425,000 | |
Shaikh 341,000 | |
Wain 339,000 | |
Ganai 271,000 | |
Lon 271,000 | |
Malik 219,000 | |
Rathor 183,000 | |
Tantrei 96,000 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 32 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
|
|||||||||||||||
Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | |||||||||||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 32 (only 20 largest shown) |
Jammu and Kashmir 7,829,000 | |
Delhi 22,000 | |
Ladakh 6,200 | |
Punjab 4,700 | |
Uttar Pradesh 3,800 | |
Maharashtra 3,800 | |
Haryana 3,000 | |
Himachal Pradesh 2,800 | |
Uttarakhand 2,700 | |
Rajasthan 1,600 | |
Chandigarh 1,100 | |
Madhya Pradesh 1,000 | |
West Bengal 500 | |
Gujarat 400 | |
Bihar 300 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
100.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Kashmiri (5,157,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | kas Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 16 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Kashmiri (5,157,000 speakers) |
Language Code | kas Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 16 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Urdu 928,000 | |
Gujari 368,000 | |
Dogri 52,000 | |
Balti 44,000 | |
Bhadrawahi 41,000 | |
Pashto, Northern 40,000 | |
Purig 26,000 | |
Shina 22,000 | |
Khah 14,000 | |
Khowar 14,000 | |
Hindko, Northern 1,000 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 800 | |
Kohistani, Indus 200 | |
Chambeali 200 | |
Chilisso 100 | |
People Groups | Speaking Kashmiri |
Primary Language: Kashmiri
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1813-1954) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1813-2000) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1899-2011) |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories | One Story |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | God's Story video | God's Story |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation | Create International |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Kashmiri | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Magdalena video | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | World Christian Videos | World Christian Videos |
General | Bible for Children | Bible for Children |
General | Biblical answers to your questions | Got Questions Ministry |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
Photo Source | Muaz Asim - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Video Source | The Waiting World |
Profile Source | Bethany World Prayer Center |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |