The Banjara were traditionally a nomadic community, but today they more commonly are settled and work in agricultural production. They believe that they were originally Hindu and were forcibly converted to Islam. The Muslim Banjara have twelve clans. They live in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
They are non-vegetarians who eat beef. They maintain cordial relations with neighboring communities and share water sources with them.
They belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. To follow Jesus is to risk upsetting community harmony, and to risk losing family and friends.
The Muslim Banjara people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers them in John 10:10.
Pray for spiritual hunger that will draw the Muslim Banjara to Jesus Christ. Pray for materials to help them grow properly, such as recorded or written Scripture, and gospel films. Pray that persons and households of peace will be found among the Banjara who will catalyze movements to Jesus among their own people. Pray for the Banjara community to be able to adequately care for their families, and for widows, orphans, and elderly people to have the care and protection needed.
Scripture Prayers for the Banjara (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Banjara (Muslim traditions) |
People Name in Country | Banjara (Muslim traditions) |
Pronunciation | bahn-JAR-ah |
Alternate Names | Badi; Bhanjara; Bhanjra; Bhojru; Brinjari; Chhakda; Chhakda Banjara; Dhali; Guwaria; Laban; Lambada; Lambana; Lambani; Paracha; Sirkiband; Wanjara; बंजारा (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 100,000 |
Population all Countries | 298,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 17482 |
ROP3 Code | 112893 |
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 | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
|
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 | 5 |
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 46,000 | |
Punjab 26,000 | |
Sindh 23,000 | |
Islamabad 80 | |
Balochistan 70 | |
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 Pakistan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Saraiki (22,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | skr Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 12 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Saraiki (22,000 speakers) |
Language Code | skr Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 12 |
Secondary Languages | |
Urdu 14,000 | |
Pashto, Northern 14,000 | |
Sindhi 13,000 | |
Hindko, Northern 12,000 | |
Punjabi, Western 11,000 | |
Hindko, Southern 7,500 | |
Marwari 2,500 | |
Pashto, Central 1,800 | |
Dhatki 500 | |
Pahari-Potwari 300 | |
Balochi, Eastern 30 | |
People Groups | Speaking Saraiki |
Primary Language: Saraiki
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Saraiki | 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 |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Saraiki | Literacy & Evangelism International |
Photo Source | Kingdom Rain |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |