Prabhu Patane in India

Prabhu Patane
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Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Prabhu Patane
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 74,000
World Population: 74,000
Primary Language: Marathi
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Forward Caste - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Prabhu Patane or Pathare Prabhu of India may have migrated to Bombay (Mumbai) from Saurastra and Gujarat in the the thirteenth century. They have no subgroups.

Where Are they Located?

They are located in Bombay (Mumbai) in the state of Maharashtra

What Are Their Lives Like?

Prabhu Patane people speak Marathi among themselves, Hindi and English with others. They read and write in Devanagari.

They eat fish, chicken and mutton, chapatti (bread), and rice. Vegetables and fruit are eaten in smaller amounts. They drink tea and men sometimes drink alcohol.

They marry within their group, but they choose partners from a clan other than their own.
Marriages are arranged by discussion, a dowry is given, and they marry one spouse. Marriagable ages are 28 to 35 years for men, and 22 to 30 years for women. Brides live with their husbands in the house of the husband's father. Divorce is allowed, but is not common. Adultery, cruelty and difficulty in adjusting are the usual causes for divorce. Divorcees and bereaved are allowed to marry again. It has been reported that there is an increase in the marital age.

The son and daughter inherit the property of the father. Women do the housework and look after the children. Some do office work. The women are very much involved in social and religious matters and are involved in politics, also.

Regarding childbirth, a ritual called Oti Bharna is performed in the seventh or eighth month of the pregnancy. The baby is born in a maternity home or a hospital. The pollution period after birth lasts for ten days. The name giving ceremony called Barsa takes place when the baby is twelve days old, followed by a feast. It is the sister of the father who names the baby.

Dead bodies are cremated. Death pollution time is thirteen days. The Shradha ritual is done on the thirteenth day at the end of pollution.

The Prabhu Patane are landowners. They work in office and manual work. Some teach while others are engineers or do medical work. They have an association for the community people only. There are landlords and tenants among them. There are well educated people among both the men and women. They believe in modern medicine and in family planning.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Prabhu Patane are Hindus by religion and also have family and clan gods, worshiping ancestors. They celebrate Holi and Diwali festivals.

What Are Their Needs?

The Prabhu Patanes need to be given the chance to follow Jesus Christ. Right now they are a "no choice" people, since they have not had the chance to follow Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Prabhu Patanes community to have a strong spiritual huger that will lead them to Jesus Christ.
Pray for Christ's ambassadors to go to them with the good news.
Pray for an unstoppable church planting movement to florish among this people group so that they cn enjoy the blessings of the Lord.

Text Source:   Karen Hightower