Mazhabi (Sikh traditions) in India

The Mazhabi (Sikh traditions) have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Mahatam call themselves Rai Sikh. They speak Punjabi and read and write in Gurmukhi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Many of the Mahatam work in agriculture. They are non-vegetarian and eat wheat, maize and rice as cereals. Some are in government service. Only boys get educated among them. They use modern medicine.

The Mahatam people are endogamous, meaning they prefer to marry within their group. They allow for divorce on certain grounds such as adultery and not being able to have children. They allow remarriage but not for older widows. On the death of the father, sons inherit the property with the oldest son taking charge of the family estate.


What Are Their Beliefs?

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.


What Are Their Needs?

Like all other peoples of the world, this people group needs the blessings and guidance that only Jesus Christ can offer.


Prayer Points

Pray that Indian Christians will lead the Mahatam into a disciple making movement.

Pray that gospel materials and the internet will provide them what they need to begin home groups.

Pray for dreams and visions to draw their elders to the throne of grace.


Scripture Prayers for the Mazhabi (Sikh traditions) in India.


References

Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mazhabi (Sikh traditions)
People Name in Country Mazhabi (Sikh traditions)
Pronunciation MAH-zuh-bee
Alternate Names राई (सिख ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 3,405,000
Population all Countries 3,405,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 68
People ID 20902
ROP3 Code 117667
ROP25 Code 306898
ROP25 Name Rai Sikh / Mazhabi
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 16
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Punjab
3,042,000
Rajasthan
173,000
Haryana
153,000
Uttar Pradesh
16,000
Uttarakhand
7,000
Delhi
2,900
Chandigarh
2,700
Jammu and Kashmir
2,200
Jharkhand
1,600
Maharashtra
1,100
Madhya Pradesh
900
West Bengal
600
Himachal Pradesh
500
Odisha
200
Bihar
200
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 16
  Punjab 3,042,000
  Rajasthan 173,000
  Haryana 153,000
  Uttar Pradesh 16,000
  Uttarakhand 7,000
  Delhi 2,900
  Chandigarh 2,700
  Jammu and Kashmir 2,200
  Jharkhand 1,600
  Maharashtra 1,100
  Madhya Pradesh 900
  West Bengal 600
  Himachal Pradesh 500
  Odisha 200
  Bihar 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Other / Small
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
98.99 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (2,293,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
Hindi
448,000
Bagri
102,000
Haryanvi
21,000
Marwari
2,500
Kumaoni
2,200
Shekhawati
1,000
Dogri
60
Kangri
20
Bilaspuri
10
Pahari-Potwari Churahi
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (2,293,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 448,000
  Bagri 102,000
  Haryanvi 21,000
  Marwari 2,500
  Kumaoni 2,200
  Shekhawati 1,000
  Dogri 60
  Kangri 20
  Bilaspuri 10
  Pahari-Potwari 10
  Churahi 10
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)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Punjabi, Eastern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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 Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download Bible from Google Play Store Operation Agape
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Punjabi, Eastern Literacy & Evangelism International
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Arsh Photography - Pixabay 
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.



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