Rabari (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 Rabaris have 133 subcastes. They believe they were created by Pavarti, the consort of Lord Shiva, who created a camel that kept escaping. To keep the camel, Parvati created the first Rabari to mind it. Since that time animal herding has been a sacred task for them. The Rabari view themselves as stewards rather than owners. The ancestors of the Rabari people probably migrated from Central Asia about a thousand years ago. They were traditionally nomadic, but this is changing in both India and Pakistan. They live mainly in north India though a small number live in the Sindh Province of Pakistan. Rabari means "outsider" describes how nomadic people are perceived in much of the world.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are livestock herders who are noted for their fine artwork, usually done by the women. This artwork consists of whitewashed mud sculptures and weaved goods. The women also weave things for practical use like clothes, blankets and bags. The Rabari people often live on the outskirts of cities and towns. Most of the Rabari are vegetarian while some are non-vegetarian; their everyday diet consists of homemade bread of millet or wheat and jowar. Child marriage is common among them. However, they usually have adult marriages that are negotiated through the families. They allow for remarriage for both the widow and widower. The Rabari live in joint families. Children work with their parents.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Rabari regard Durga and Shiva as their supreme deities. Shiva, Krishna, Durga and Amba are their clan deities. Rama, Ganesh, Shiva, Durgadevi and Hanuman are also worshipped as village deities. Every year they hold a three-day festival at Asthal Bohar. Because of their origin myth, the Rabari people have a special relationship with Parvati, whom they consult for big decisions. Because of their special relationship with Parvati, whom they regard as a Mother Goddess, their society is matriarchal, with women conducting most of their business affairs and managing their villages while the men keep charge of the livestock.


What Are Their Needs?

The Rabari people in Pakistan need to find new ways to earn a living. There is less and less room for herdsmen in this part of the world.


Prayer Points

Pray for a movement to Christ among the Rabari people in India and Pakistan. Pray for the Rabari people to have a spiritual hunger that will drive them into the loving arms of Jesus. Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will stay with the Rabari people until they have the chance to form their own church planting movement.


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


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabari
https://kashgar.com.au/blogs/tribal-culture/rabari-people-of-northwest-india


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Rabari (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Rabari (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation rah-BAH-ree
Alternate Names Bhopa; Bhope; Bhute; Chaudhari; Devagi; Mogha; Rahbari; Raika; Ranbari; Rebari; Sinai; Vishotar; राबरी (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 12,000
Population all Countries 1,272,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17921
ROP3 Code 113405
ROP25 Code 306886
ROP25 Name Rabari
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 2
Largest States
Sindh
11,000
Punjab
200
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 2
  Sindh 11,000
  Punjab 200
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 (7,300 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Dhatki
2,800
Kacchi
1,000
Marwari (Pakistan)
200
Saraiki
200
Primary Language Sindhi (7,300 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Dhatki 2,800
  Kacchi 1,000
  Marwari (Pakistan) 200
  Saraiki 200
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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
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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