The Jats are immersed in several ethnic groups who retain an identity often based on occupation and heritage. The word "Jat" is from the Arabic word "jatta" referring to the inhabitants of what is now much of Pakistan and Northwest India. They arrived in the sub-continent as invaders yet did not establish ruling dynasties. They were presumably Indo-Iranian who in the course of time they mixed with other invaders and older Indian inhabitants.
The greatest concentrations of Jats are found in states of Punjab and Haryana. They make up to one third of the population in Mirpur (Jammu and Kashmir), Gujranwala Multan, Muzaffargarh, Manipuri, Bahawalpur, Patkiala, Faridkot (Punjab) Rohtak and Mahendragarh (Haryana).
A popular occupation among Jats is farming. A small percentage are traders and laborers.
Jat Sikhs marry in front of Guru Granth Sahib like all other Sikhs. Some just sit and hear the sermons, while others go around the book four time (with rounds called laanvan).
Widow remarriage is allowed but she cannot marry her younger brother-in-law or near relatives of her deceased husband. The dead are cremated except children under seven who are buried.
They eat unleavened bread (roti) and curry, seasonal vegetables, ghee and milk. Girls are tattooed before marriage. Women are fond of jewelry and wear bangles made of ivory, lac (a resinous material) or clay but never glass.
When a man dies, his widow goes around his body seven times in the reverse direction of the one during marriage, indicating the undoing of marriage. She breaks a few of her bangles.
Sikhism originated from a 15th century teacher named Guru Nanak Dev as a reform movement. He rejected the Hindu caste system, taught that all people were equal and that all have equal access to God. The Sikh God is formless, without gender and is to be found in everyone. One gets closer to God by living a good life and by practicing charity. Like Hindus, Sikhs believe in reincarnation and the law of karma; you reap what you sow in your previous life. Like Muslims, the Sikhs worship only one God.
One may recognize a Sikh man by his distinctive turban. All the 10 great Sikh gurus wore turbans. Sikh teaching mandates that a person not cut his or her hair. They worship their holy book, the Granth Sahib, which is a collection of hymns.
There are roughly the same number of Sikhs as there are Jews in the world, but Sikhs are most concentrated in Punjab, their homeland. However, you will find smaller numbers of Sikhs all over the world. Many of the best Indian restaurants in the West are owned and operated by Sikhs.
Like all other peoples of the world, this people group needs the blessings and guidance that only Jesus Christ can offer.
Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to India and Nepal and share Christ with all Sikh Jat communities.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften their hearts towards Jesus to the point where they will give him their full devotion.
Ask God to call out prayer teams to break up the soil through worship and intercession.
Ask the Lord to raise up a triumphant church planting movement among Sikh Jats for the glory of His name.
Scripture Prayers for the Jat (Sikh traditions) in India.
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2020/08/08
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2020/05/20
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2013/08/18
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2007-09-21 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2013-08-18 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-05-20 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-08-08 |
People Name General | Jat (Sikh traditions) |
People Name in Country | Jat (Sikh traditions) |
Pronunciation |
jot
|
Alternate Names | Jaut; Langah; Langha; Marth; Newar; जाट, (सिख ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 8,794,000 |
Population all Countries | 9,143,000 |
Total Countries | 6 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 176 |
People ID | 18777 |
ROP3 Code | 114456 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 36 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | |||||||||||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 36 (only 20 largest shown) |
Punjab 6,497,000 | |
Haryana 641,000 | |
Rajasthan 442,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh 401,000 | |
Delhi 314,000 | |
Jammu and Kashmir 138,000 | |
Uttarakhand 121,000 | |
Maharashtra 110,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 83,000 | |
Chandigarh 70,000 | |
Himachal Pradesh 43,000 | |
Chhattisgarh 37,000 | |
Jharkhand 37,000 | |
Gujarat 35,000 | |
West Bengal 34,000 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Other / Small |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.02 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
99.98 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Punjabi, Eastern (7,579,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | pan Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 41 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Punjabi, Eastern (7,579,000 speakers) |
Language Code | pan Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 41 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Hindi 1,158,000 | |
Bagri 217,000 | |
Haryanvi 67,000 | |
Dogri 21,000 | |
Saraiki 14,000 | |
Marwari 12,000 | |
Kangri 7,600 | |
Awadhi 5,000 | |
Gujarati 4,400 | |
Kumaoni 4,300 | |
Chhattisgarhi 3,200 | |
Marathi 2,900 | |
Kashmiri 2,700 | |
Punjabi, Western 2,400 | |
Garhwali 2,300 | |
People Groups | Speaking Punjabi, Eastern |
Primary Language: Punjabi, Eastern
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1818-1954) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1815-2011) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1959-2021) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Adnan Mughal - Pexels Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Video Source | The Waiting World |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |