The Badhai name comes from the Sanskrit vardhna which means cutting. The Hindu community of the Badhai believe that their name comes from Lord Vishwakarma who created two people groups: the cutters of wood, or Badhai people and the workers of iron, or Lohar people. Most of the Badhai Muslims live in Uttar Pradesh but others are scattered through north India, Nepal and Pakistan.
Today carpentry is still common though some have acquired land and are involved in agriculture. The men have a custom of wearing the dhoti, a baniyan shirt and a red cloth, or gamcha, over the shoulder. They are not vegetarian and prefer rice and wheat as staple grains.
There are Hindus among them, but many are Muslim. Like most Muslims in India, the Badhai’s form of Islam is influenced by Hindu thinking and practices.
From the carpentry origins, lets pray that Jesus, the prophet and carpenter, can be proclaimed in this lost community of Muslims. There are no known believers among this group.
Pray for Muslim Badhai culture to be renewed and enhanced by a work of the Holy Spirit and shaped into a God-centered and God-honoring mold.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Badhai family and community leaders to seek his face and enjoy his blessings.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will be compelled to nurture a Disciple Making Movement among the Muslim Badhai people.
Pray that soon the Badhai people will have faith that will lead them to live honorable lives that will draw others to the savior.
Pray for spiritual discernment and a hunger for true spirituality.
Scripture Prayers for the Badhai (Muslim traditions) in India.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
