Dhobi (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Dhobis are a Hindu community dedicated to washing clothes. Most live in Pakistan, India and Nepal. Smaller numbers are in Sri Lanka.

They have served communities across the Indian subcontinent for centuries. They trace their roots back to ancient times, providing laundry services to households and businesses. In Pakistan, the Dhobi community continues to play an essential role in maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, adapting to changing societal needs over time.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Dhobi people primarily reside in urban and rural areas where they offer laundry services. Their work involves washing, drying and ironing clothes, often using traditional methods passed down through generations.

When a Dhobi girl marries, her dowry usually contains just a few items, but almost always an iron. After the men wash the customers' clothes, the women iron them and keep the money they earn to pay for household expenses. Mothers teach their daughters to iron at an early age, and boys help their fathers by washing the smaller articles of clothing and by delivering packages of clean clothes to their owners.

Their diet is mostly vegetables and grains, with an occasional bit of meat.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Dhobis follow popular Hinduism and worship local gods. They also worship their washing stones during the festival of Dussehra. At that time they make offerings of flowers, turmeric and cooked food. The vast majority remain Hindu, but they have regular contact with other communities, especially in Muslim Pakistan. Hindu Dhobis observe rituals and festivals such as Diwali and Holi, worshipping various deities and visiting local temples.


What Are Their Needs?

As their ancestors before them, the Dhobis earn their meager living by washing clothes for the higher castes. Their livelihood is being replaced by washing machines. Most likely they will need to find a different livelihood in the future. They need job training.


Prayer Points

Pray that Hindu Dhobi people will hear the gospel and discover that Jesus Christ is the only one who can wash away their sins.
Pray that Christian believers will tactfully share gospel recordings with Hindu Dhobi people in Pakistan.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will give faith to the Dhobis in Pakistan.


Scripture Prayers for the Dhobi (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhobi
https://www.indianetzone.com/31/dhobi_washerman_caste.htm


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dhobi (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Dhobi (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation DOH-bee
Alternate Names Agasa; Agasaru; Agheria; Bana; Batham; Bhai; Chakala; Chakali; Chakka; Chandbar; Charhoya; Chasa; Chasa Dhoba; Chauhan-Bhatti; Chawla; Chhimba; Darhi; Dharhiadu; Dharhiannan; Dharhiannari; Dhob; Dhoba; Dhobi; Dhopa; Dhopi; Dhupi; Hawari; Jada; Khurdanai; Madivala; Madiwal; Madiyal; Madiyali; Madvali; Madwai; Modiyal; Monson; Nurang; Oddelu; Oddollu; Oriya Chakali; Oriyavallu; Pak; Parit; Prasad Dhobi; Qasab; Raipal; Rajak; Rajaka; Rajakha; Rajpar; Rajput Dhobi; Rajukula; Ram Dhobi; Ramdu; Ranghi; Rathor; Sabhasundar; Sakala; SakalaDarhi; Sakalavadu; Sat-Chasi; Shaheri; Sharma; Sheheri Hindu; Shuklabaidya; Shukladas; Sukladas; Suklavaidya; Tanwar; Tasha; Togata; Tsakala; Vadde Chakali; Vannan; Vannari; Varetha; Varitha; Vattakkadan; Warathi; Watts; धोबी (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 15,000
Population all Countries 14,642,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16709
ROP3 Code 111944
ROP25 Code 302072
ROP25 Name Dhobi
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 4
Largest States
Sindh
13,000
Balochistan
900
Punjab
500
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
40
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 4
  Sindh 13,000
  Balochistan 900
  Punjab 500
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Sindhi (12,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Dhatki
1,400
Saraiki
900
Kacchi
200
Urdu
200
Punjabi, Western
100
Marwari (India)
50
Hindko, Northern
40
Primary Language Sindhi (12,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Dhatki 1,400
  Saraiki 900
  Kacchi 200
  Urdu 200
  Punjabi, Western 100
  Marwari (India) 50
  Hindko, Northern 40
People Groups Speaking Sindhi

Primary Language:  Sindhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1825-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1890-1992)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1954)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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 Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sindhi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
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.



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