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Vaddar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

Vaddar (Muslim traditions)

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Vaddar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan map

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Population [2] Language Religion % Christian % Evangl Online NT Jesus Film Progress
125,000 Oadki Islam 0.00 % 0.00 % No   

Vaddar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

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Introduction / History
For most of their history the Vaddar (aka Bovi or Od) people wandered the subcontinent looking for jobs to support their families. The word Bhovi means "earth-digger". During the Partition of 1947, the Muslim Vaddars tended to move to Pakistan while the Hindu Vaddars went to live in India. The large majority of the Vaddars (aka Bhovi or Od) are Hindus but there are also a sizable number of Muslims and a small group of Sikhs.

Where are they located?
The Vaddar people live throughout the nation of Pakistan but mostly reside in the south of the country. The most Muslim Vaddars of Pakistan live in the states of Punjab and Sindh.

What are their lives like?
The traditional occupations of the Vaddars have been as stonecutters, diggers of wells and canals and as transporters of earth and stones. Many Vaddars now have settled in villages and work as farm laborers on others' land. Only about 50% of the Vaddars can read and write. The primary language of the Muslim Vaddars in Pakistan is Oadki (aka Odki). Many also speak Punjabi and Urdu, which allow them to speak with others outside their group.

The Vaddars of Pakistan are endogamous, that is they marry within their own community. The Vaddar women have a role in the economic, social and religious spheres of their community and contribute to the family income. Caste councils promote their interests and settle legal disputes.

What are their beliefs?
Though the Vaddar people of Pakistan are Muslims, they retain certain aspects of the Hindu worldview such as belief in evil spirits. The Vaddar people in Pakistan are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They attempt to obey the teachings of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. They believe that by following the Five Pillars of Islam that they will attain heaven when they die. Sunnis pray five times a day facing Mecca. They fast the month of Ramadan. They attend mosque services on Friday. If a Muslim has the means, he or she will make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in his or her lifetime.

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. Presently there are no known believers among the Vaddars of Pakistan.

What are their needs?
The Muslim Vaddars need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. The Vaddars need help in educating their children and learning new job skills. They need the benefits of modern medicine. They need to see the love of Christ lived out before them in practical ways.

A few Vaddar (Bovi, Od) indicated interest in becoming Christ-followers in the 1970s but it is unknown what has happened to them due to persecution.

Prayer Points
Pray for Holy Spirit to send anointed believers to serve among the Vaddars.
Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers Vaddar disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for a spiritual hunger for the truth and Word of God among the Vaddar.
Pray for a "book of Acts" type of movement among Pakistan's Vaddar community.

References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waddar_language
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/Vaddar-People2/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Digambar_Ghodke/publication/311922163_Language_and_Culture_of_the_Waddar_Community_in_Maharashtra/links/58628b2108aebf17d39556c2/Language-and-Culture-of-the-Waddar-Community-in-Maharashtra.pdf
https://www.prayway.com/unreached/peoplegroups4/732.html

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Country: Pakistan
Continent: Asia
Region: Asia, South
Persecution Rank:7 (Only top 50 ranked, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
10/40 Window: Yes
Population in Country:125,000
Largest Provinces:
Punjab (96,000)Sindh (24,000)
Islamabad (100)Balochistan (70)
   
 
Maps
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Country Map:Political map
Ethnolinguistic Map:University of Texas or other map
 
  Peoples [3]
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People Name in Country: Vaddar (Muslim traditions)
People Name General: Vaddar (Muslim traditions)
Alternate People Names:
Beldar RajputBhovi
BoviNungar
OdOdde
OdhOdhar
OrhOthar
UdhanoVadar
VadiWaddar
WaddeWadi
ROP3 Code: 113171
Joshua Project People ID: 17721
Indigenous: Yes
Population in Country: 125,000
Population all Countries: 130,000
Least-Reached: Yes
   
 
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
People Cluster: South Asia Muslim - other
People Name General: Vaddar (Muslim traditions)
Ethnic Code: CNN25
Ethnic Relationships: Affinity Bloc -> People Cluster -> Peoples Ethnicity Tree
   
 
Language
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Primary Language: Oadki (39,000 Speakers)
Language Code (ISO): odk    Ethnologue Listing
Secondary Languages:
Saraiki (32,000)Punjabi, Western (31,000)
Sindhi (12,000)Urdu (9,900)
Marwari (2,100)Dhatki (800)
Bagri (100)
Total Languages: 8
   
 
Religion [4]
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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religions:
Buddhism0.00 % 
Christianity0.00 %(Evangelical: 0.00 %)
Ethnic Religions0.00 % 
Hinduism0.00 % 
Islam100.00 % 
Non-Religious0.00 % 
Other / Small0.00 % 
Unknown0.00 % 
Christianity Segments:
Anglican0.00 %
Independent0.00 %
Protestant0.00 %
Orthodox0.00 %
Other Christian0.00 %
Roman Catholic0.00 %
 
(Evangelicals distributed across Christianity segments)
   
 
Progress Indicators [5]
Progress Scale[6]   Few evangelicals and few who claim to be Christians. Little, if any, history of Christianity.
Least-Reached: Yes
 
 
Bible Translation Status
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Bible Portions: 1972-1983
New Testament: None Reported
Complete Bible: None Reported
Possible Bible Sources: Forum of Bible Agencies
 World Bible Finder
 World Christian Resource Directory
 Gospel Go
 
 
Ministry Resources [7]
Audio RecordingsMegaVoice Audio Bible and Stories
Audio RecordingsAudio Bible teaching
Film / VideoJesus Film: view in Oadki
Film / VideoMagdalena video
GeneralGospel resources links
GeneralGospel website in this language
 
 
Ministry Activity
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Description: Register your ministry activity among this people group. Contact the Adopt-A-People Clearinghouse and Unleashed for the Unreached to learn about others that might be focused on this people group.
 
Data Notes
Data Sources
 
 

Vaddar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

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      Vaddar (Muslim traditions) Pakistan    
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            Vaddar (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan          
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      Islam     Oadki  
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Direct link:  http://legacy.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?rog3=PK&peo3=17721