Rajpasi Pasi in India

The Rajpasi Pasi have only been reported in India
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 legend about the origin of the community is that one day a man was going to kill a number of cows. Parashuram was at that time practicing austerities in the jungle. Hearing the cries of the sacred animals he rushed to their assistance, but the cow killer was aided by his friends. So Parashuram made five men out of kusha grass and brought them to life by letting drops of his perspiration fall upon them. Hence arose the name Pasi, from the Hindi pasina (sweat).
There are separate Pasi communities, some are Muslim, but most are Hindu. They have subgroups, one of which is the Rajpasi. They are especially numerous in Uttar Pradesh, but they also live in Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Despite this flattering legend, the Rajpasi Pasi people have low status in South Asia, especially among other Hindus. They have "untouchable" status, which is very low. Their occupation involves producing toddy, an alcoholic beverage. Both Hindus and Muslims frown on the use of alcohol, but there is a demand. At one time the Pasi community may have herded pigs.
This community speaks a number of languages, so they might need separate church planting projects for each language group.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Rajpasi Pasi people practice Hinduism, which has left its mark in all countries of South Asia. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins. Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

This community speaks a number of languages. Separate church planting projects may be needed for each language group. Stories from scripture, films, recordings, and gospel radio for each language spoken by the Rajpasi Pasi community will be helpful.


Prayer Points

Pray for God to bless every Pasi community economically and spiritually as a testimony of his goodness and power.
May God overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of his gospel among the Rajpasi Pasi community.
Pray for the followers of Christ that will soon develop within the Rajpasi Pasi community, that the Lord will provide pastors and teachers for them, and for them to become well-grounded in the faith, fully trusting in Christ.
Pray the Rajpasi Pasi community will increasingly be aware of their need to know and follow the creator God.


Scripture Prayers for the Pasi Rajpasi in India.


References

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-history-of-Pasi-caste
https://www.indianetzone.com/31/pasi_aboriginal_race.htm


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Pasi Rajpasi
People Name in Country Pasi Rajpasi
Natural Name Rajpasi Pasi
Alternate Names
Population this Country 1,585,000
Population all Countries 1,585,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 32
People ID 21773
ROP3 Code 118560
ROP25 Code 306586
ROP25 Name Pasi
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 15
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
1,319,000
Bihar
207,000
Jharkhand
14,000
Delhi
11,000
Madhya Pradesh
8,900
Punjab
6,900
West Bengal
5,600
Maharashtra
4,700
Chandigarh
2,400
Chhattisgarh
1,600
Tripura
1,600
Uttarakhand
1,200
Gujarat
700
Andaman and Nicobar
500
Haryana
100
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 15
  Uttar Pradesh 1,319,000
  Bihar 207,000
  Jharkhand 14,000
  Delhi 11,000
  Madhya Pradesh 8,900
  Punjab 6,900
  West Bengal 5,600
  Maharashtra 4,700
  Chandigarh 2,400
  Chhattisgarh 1,600
  Tripura 1,600
  Uttarakhand 1,200
  Gujarat 700
  Andaman and Nicobar 500
  Haryana 100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.07 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.19 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.69 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.05 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (755,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Awadhi
287,000
Kanauji
156,000
Bhojpuri
76,000
Magahi
34,000
Maithili
8,800
Bengali
5,900
Punjabi, Eastern
5,200
Marathi
3,000
Angika
1,300
Malvi
1,000
Chhattisgarhi
900
Bundeli
500
Garhwali
300
Kumaoni
300
Gujarati
200
Primary Language Hindi (755,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Awadhi 287,000
  Kanauji 156,000
  Bhojpuri 76,000
  Magahi 34,000
  Maithili 8,800
  Bengali 5,900
  Punjabi, Eastern 5,200
  Marathi 3,000
  Angika 1,300
  Malvi 1,000
  Chhattisgarhi 900
  Bundeli 500
  Garhwali 300
  Kumaoni 300
  Gujarati 200
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
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 Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children 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 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 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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