Pardhi in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

Long ago, the prosperity of Gujarat state enticed people of surrounding states and made it a target of various Muslim tribes. The Islamic rulers reached their greatest power under the Monghal Dynasty and overtook the Gujarat kingdom by the end of the thirteenth century. However, the Hindu Maratha fought the Monghals and also established an empire in Gujarat. Apparently, the Pardhi came under Maratha influence. As these groups continued warring over the Gujarat territory, the British rose to power by 1817. They scattered the Pardhi into other areas, taking whatever jobs were available. The British damaged their reputation labeling them a "criminal" caste.
Today, the Pardhi Bhil comprises many distinctive sub-groups. Their language, Pardhi, is one of the Bhil languages. They derive their name from the Marathi word paradh, which means "hunting." They are a migrant people, scattered over a wide area of central India in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. A smaller number inhabit Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Pardhi are a wandering tribe of game and bird hunters, living in simple huts that are made of mud and sticks. Those who live in Kutch (northwestern Gujarat) enjoy catching snakes, and many of them have become snake charmers. Many Pardhi communities make and sell baskets, while others make black-stone vessels. Some of the Pardhis sell oil from crocodiles or perform monkey shows. Commonly, the Pardhi hire themselves out as day laborers. Many are scavengers or ragpickers, and they sometimes get harassed by the police.
They are having trouble adjusting to modern Pakistani society. Their nomadic background and their reputation as petty criminals make other communities suspicious of the Pardhis. Some Pardhis have risen above this by leading tours where they show the flora, fauna and wildlife to tourists in their central Indian homeland. One of their women is making a point of getting Pardhi children into classrooms so they can get the education they need as India modernizes. This is difficult to do for a nomadic people.
As is the practice of most Bhil tribes, the Pardhi marry only within their own sub-groups.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though they are officially Hindu, most of the Pardhi practice ethnic religions. They are firm believers in the spirit world and its influence on the physical world. They worship millions of gods and goddesses in their houses. They believe these deities must be worshipped and appeased in various ways.


What Are Their Needs?

Believers with the right skills can help the Pardhi community learn needed vocations so they can earn a good living in the modern age.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will send culturally sensitive missionaries who will show the Pardhi of Pakistan the way to the cross.
Pray for a Christ-ward movement to flourish among the Pardhi community.
Pray for the Pardhi people to be blessed with peace, joy and spiritual prosperity as they follow Jesus Christ.
Pray for their leaders to have dreams and visions that will open their hearts to Jesus Christ and his ambassadors.


Scripture Prayers for the Pardhi in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Pardhi
People Name in Country Pardhi
Alternate Names Advichincher; Aran Pardhi; Bagri; Bahelia; Gaon Pardhi; Jogi Shikari; Jugaria; Mogia; Nahar; Nirshikari; Paradhi; Pardhi Nahar; Parhi; Parhi Nahar; Paria; Parthi; Phanadi; Phanse Pardhi; Phansi Pardhi; Phasse; Pittalollu; Raj Pardhi; Shikari; Tarakan; Valand; पर्धी
Population this Country 20,000
Population all Countries 453,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17847
ROP3 Code 113321
ROP25 Code 306562
ROP25 Name Pardhi
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
20,000
Punjab
200
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 20,000
  Punjab 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.83 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.31 %
Islam
0.86 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Sindhi (13,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Dhatki
6,100
Kacchi
600
Saraiki
400
Marwari (Pakistan)
80
Primary Language Sindhi (13,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Dhatki 6,100
  Kacchi 600
  Saraiki 400
  Marwari (Pakistan) 80
People Groups Speaking Sindhi

Primary Language:  Sindhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1825-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1890-1992)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1954)
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 Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sindhi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video 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 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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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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