Mochi (Muslim traditions) in India

Introduction / History

If you were to purchase any sort of saddle or leather shoes in South Asia, chances are good that it was put together by a Mochi. The name "Mochi" comes from the Sanskrit mochika and the Hindi word Mojna which mean "to fold." While the Chamars would do the initial slaughtering and preparation of the cattle hide, the Mochis are the ones who typically do the finishing work on the leather items.

What Are Their Lives Like?

In Hindu dominated cultures like we find in India, people are given low status for doing menial or unpleasant work, especially anything having to do with dead animals. This attitude spills over to the Muslim peoples, even in Pakistan. For this reason, the Chamars have very low status. The Mochis are somewhat more respected than the Chamars. There has been a long running rivalry between the two groups for superiority. However, in some areas the two groups are indistinguishable.

What Are Their Beliefs?

These people are Sunni Muslims who 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.

What Are Their Needs?

The Mochi people, be they Muslim or Hindu, need to understand that God gives them worth because they are created in his image. They may have the contempt of fallen humankind, but they have the love of God.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Muslim Mochi people in India to find their worth and dignity in a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.

Text Source:   Joshua Project