The Muslim Bazigar or Goaar live in northwest Pakistan. Their name comes from the Urdu word "bazi" which means acrobat. The Bazigar were originally Hindus. A small group of them became Muslims during the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods. The traditional occupation of the Bazigar was that of being acrobats, dancers, musicians, jugglers and wrestlers. The Bazigar would travel from village to village. They would hire themselves out as farm agricultural laborers. They would also perform at festivals and holidays as dancers, drummers and acrobats. They would perform for Hindu, Muslim and Sikh villages.
Today less than one out of five Bazigars engage in the itinerate lifestyle. Most have settled down and work in agriculture. They still like to dance, sing, play music and do feats of strength and agility. In 1981, only 11% of the Bazigar could read and write. Illiteracy continues to be a problem for them today.
The two primary languages of the Muslim Bazigar are Western Punjabi and Urdu.
The Bazigar live in the Pakistani states of Punjab and Azad Kashmir.
Most Pakistani Bazigar now work in agriculture as laborers. They also work as
shopkeepers, public officials and grocers. They raise goats and sheep for their meat and milk. Muslim Bazigar do not eat pork. Many Bazigar still have musical and athletic skills, which they perform at important family events and holidays.
The Bazigar marry within their community. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit property with the eldest son gaining possession of the family home. Caste councils promote their interests and settle legal disputes.
The Bazigar people of Pakistan are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They attempt to obey the teachings of the Qur 'an and the prophet Muhammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
The Muslim Bazigar need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way the can understand. They need help in educating their The Bazigar need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can children and in learning new job skills. They need to see Christianity lived out before them in practical
Pray that the Lord sends workers to the Bazigar to tell them about Jesus and His love for them.
Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Bazigar families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray the Bazigar people will understand that Jesus desires to bless their families and communities, not harm them.
Scripture Prayers for the Bazigar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazigar
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.692.2886&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Profile Source: David Kugel |
People Name General | Bazigar (Muslim traditions) |
People Name in Country | Bazigar (Muslim traditions) |
Alternate Names | Bazigar; Madari; Medari; Mehdri; Qalandar; बाज़ीगर (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 4,800 |
Population all Countries | 13,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 17487 |
ROP3 Code | 112900 |
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 | 3 | |||
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 | 3 |
Punjab 2,500 | |
Azad Kashmir 2,200 | |
Sindh 90 | |
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 (2,000 speakers) | |||||||||
Language Code | skr Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||
Total Languages | 9 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Saraiki (2,000 speakers) |
Language Code | skr Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 9 |
Secondary Languages | |
Pahari-Potwari 1,500 | |
Marwari 600 | |
Hindko, Southern 400 | |
Hindko, Northern 200 | |
Sindhi 100 | |
Punjabi, Western 80 | |
Urdu 60 | |
Kashmiri 30 | |
People Groups | Speaking Saraiki |
Primary Language: Saraiki
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1888-2009) |
Bible-New Testament | No |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 | 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 |