The term Bhisti is derived from the Persian word bihisht, meaning paradise, and they were so named on account of the services they rendered to thirsty soldiers. They claim their ancestry from Hazrat Abbas Alamdar, who went to fetch water from a pond in a skin-bag to quench the thirst of the followers of Imam Husain on their way to Damascus. A Bhisti saved the life of an emperor during the Moghul Empire, earning them the respect of some.
The Bhistis do not have good status in today's India. Their water is used for drinking, for cooling systems and for watering graves.
Today their livelihood is endangered because there are better ways for people to get water. There are water taps in many urban areas. People use these, but so do the Bhistis, who fill their leather pouches with it. Bhistis do not earn much money for their difficult job which includes fetching the water, tying the entrance for the leather container and taking it to customers. They hold the heavy leather pouch at their sides as they walk through busy marketplaces.
The Bihishti belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. They venerate their village deity, Khera Dev and fear Evil spirits.
The Bhisti may well have an inadequate understanding of who Jesus (whom Muslims call Isa al-Masih) truly is. Pray the Lord will open their eyes.
Pray the Bhisti community will increasingly thirst for living water.
Pray for the Bhisti people's economic well-being as they struggle to make a living in a world that has changed dramatically since their caste began.
Pray for their spiritual condition, as they are often filled with the fear of evil spirits.
Pray for a movement to Jesus to multiply among Bhisti families and communities.
Pray the Lord will begin to call out believers. Pray they will be adequately instructed in the faith and will grow to maturity in Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Bhisti in India.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT1hXSxWntE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4X75EDYYA
https://vikalpsangam.org/article/a-bhisti-ruled-an-empire-once/
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2014/10/11
http:/
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Bhisti |
People Name in Country | Bhisti |
Pronunciation | PEESH-tee |
Alternate Names | Abasi; Abbasi; Bihisti; Chambhar; Mashki; Maski; Mochi; Pakhali; Pakhia; Parkhali; Sakka; Saqqa; Sekh Abbasi; Shaikh Abbasi; Shaikh Saqqa; Sheikh Abbasi; भिस्ती |
Population this Country | 647,000 |
Population all Countries | 718,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 13 |
People ID | 16418 |
ROP3 Code | 111569 |
ROP25 Code | 301205 |
ROP25 Name | Bihisti |
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 | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 14 |
Uttar Pradesh 567,000 | |
Rajasthan 44,000 | |
Uttarakhand 17,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 11,000 | |
Gujarat 3,100 | |
Maharashtra 3,000 | |
Bihar 500 | |
Delhi 500 | |
Karnataka 500 | |
Himachal Pradesh 400 | |
Chhattisgarh 200 | |
Manipur 50 | |
Odisha 40 | |
Dadra and Nagar Have 30 | |
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 | Urdu (527,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 16 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (527,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 16 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Marwari 5,000 | |
Braj Bhasha 2,900 | |
Awadhi 2,700 | |
Gujarati 1,800 | |
Kanauji 1,400 | |
Garhwali 1,300 | |
Bundeli 1,200 | |
Mewari 800 | |
Dhundari 800 | |
Hindi 400 | |
Kumaoni 300 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 100 | |
Shekhawati 70 | |
Bhojpuri 60 | |
Marathi 30 | |
People Groups | Speaking Urdu |
Primary Language: Urdu
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1747-1894) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1758-2000) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1843-2022) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
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Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Steve Evans - Flickr Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |