Lishari Baloch in Pakistan

The Lishari Baloch have only been reported 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 name, "Baloch," is shrouded in controversy. Some say it means "nomad," while others claim that it is an old Persian word meaning "the cock's crest." Some believe the name "Baloch" is derived from the name of the Babylonian king and god Belus. Others believe the word is a derivation of Sanskrit words "Bal" meaning strength and "Och" meaning high or magnificent.

Their history is just as mysterious. Some have traced their origins to Nimrod, son of Cush (Noah's grandson). But while some things are uncertain, we do know that they first moved to the region in the twelfth century. The Baloch claim their origins to be in Aleppo in what is now Syria. They are descendants of Hazrat Ameer Hamza, the uncle of Islamic prophet Mohammed. Based on an analysis of the linguistic connections of the Balochi language, the original homeland of the Balochi tribes was likely the east or southeast area of the central Caspian region. During the Moghul period, this territory became known as "Balochistan."

The Baloch homeland reaches from eastern Balochistan to southwestern Punjab, which borders India. This high, dry region was once a very populated country watered by a large number of flowing rivers. Today, it is a barren area of rocky mountains and dry river valleys mixed with desert land.

Baloch dialects are divided into three basic categories: Western, Eastern and Southern. From there they are divided into subgroups such as the Lishari. Though there are Baloch people in Afghanistan, and even a small Diaspora in certain Gulf States, about seventy percent live in Pakistan, including the Lishari subgroup. This subgroup speaks the Southern Balochi dialect.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Lishari Baloch marriages are arranged between the bride's father and the prospective groom. There is a bride price of livestock and cash. Once a woman is married, she passes from the authority of her father to that of her husband. Marriages are monogamous and lifelong, and marrying a non-Baloch is strictly forbidden for most Baloch subgroups.

Balochmayar, or the "Balochiway," is the honor code by which the Lishari Baloch live. These principles include extending hospitality and mercy, dealing with each other honestly, and offering refuge to strangers. They are preserved through both songs and poetry. Children learn proper behavior by watching their elders and are taunted whenever they misbehave. Baloch mothers pass traditions to children through oral history retelling. For many centuries the tradition of a Baloch mother singing lullabies to her children has played an important role in the transfer of knowledge from generation to generation.

Many Baloch cannot read or write and until recently, their language was unwritten. However, they have a long tradition of poetic compositions. They give high status to poets and professional minstrels. Gold ornaments such as necklaces and bracelets are an important aspect of Baloch women's possessions. They wear a gold brooch that is used to fasten two parts of the dress together over the chest.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though there is a tiny Shia minority among the Baloch, almost all are Sunni Muslims. They believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.

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.

Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.

In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

The Lishari Baloch have been isolated for many years due to harsh climate, the difficulty of communicating in mountainous terrain, and their former reputation as bandits. Pakistan's Balochistan Province is very poor. Baloch communities often need adequate potable water sources, schools and hospitals. Above all, they need the chance to allow Jesus Christ to bless them with abundant life.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to make a way for the Baloch to have a movement to Christ that will bless every subgroup materially and spiritually.
Pray for Lishari elders and family leaders to have dreams of the risen Christ, opening them to his grace, mercy and love.
Pray that God will provide workers who speak the Balochi languages to work with the Lishari Baloch people.
Pray for Lishari Baloch families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross as the only payment for sin.


Scripture Prayers for the Baloch Lishari in Pakistan.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_people
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baloch
https://www.atlasofhumanity.com/baloch
https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-opinion-about-Baloch-people


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Baloch Lishari
People Name in Country Baloch Lishari
Natural Name Lishari Baloch
Alternate Names
Population this Country 193,000
Population all Countries 193,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
People ID 22031
ROP3 Code 119049
ROP25 Code 300774
ROP25 Name Baloch
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
192,000
Balochistan
1,800
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 192,000
  Balochistan 1,800
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 Balochi, Southern (134,000 speakers)
Language Code bcc   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Sindhi
48,000
Urdu
7,100
Dhatki
400
Primary Language Balochi, Southern (134,000 speakers)
Language Code bcc   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Sindhi 48,000
  Urdu 7,100
  Dhatki 400
People Groups Speaking Balochi, Southern

Primary Language:  Balochi, Southern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1992-1994)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1999-2001)
Bible-Complete No
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 Story of Jesus audio 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 Balochi, Southern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Balochi, Southern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Pákén kessah gón aksán Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Android Keyboard App: Balochi Keyboards Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible App: Balóchi Mestag بلۆچی مستاگ Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Balochi, Southern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Dictionary App: Balochi-English Dictionary Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Reading App: Balochi Folktales Faith Comes by Hearing
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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