The Chhimba people live mainly in India's northern state of Himachal Pradesh. Others live in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. They speak the regional dialect of Western Pahari Hindi, and standard Hindi as a trade language.
Families arrange marriages, and it's common for Chhimba families to exchange sisters in marriage. Boys get married at about 20 years of age, and girls at 16. Women are very much involved with washing clothes, the trade of this people group that is closely related to the better-known Dhobis. Recently some have opened dry cleaning and dyeing shops in towns. Development programs have helped the Chhimba people, specifically in literacy.
Though there are Muslims and Hindus among them, most are Hindu. Hinduism is a catch all phrase for all the local religions of South Asia, so they can believe just about anything.
Without a single Christ follower among them and living in some of India’s least reached states, the Chhimba Hindu community desperately needs a gospel witness.
Pray that soon Chhimba people will sing songs of worship to their true King of kings as they go about their work as cleaners.
Pray that they will share Christ with their customers, and thus share the spiritual wealth with others in this highly resistant part of India.
Pray for loving and dedicated workers to disciple Chhimba people in the ways of Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Chhimba (Hindu traditions) in India.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
