Bhisti in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The name "Bhisti" is from a Persian word for paradise. This name was given to them because they carried water to thirsty soldiers. Their language is Urdu; however, they also speak the languages of the different areas where they live.


Where Are they Located?

North India, Karachi (a city in Pakistan), and Nepal's Terai Region are home to Bhisti people.


What Are Their Lives Like?

As water carriers, the Bhisti people do hard work with very little pay. As drinkable water has become more available, many of them have left this profession for other low-paying jobs in carpentry, making cigarettes, welding, and painting. It is common for Bhisti people to be landless agricultural workers.


What Are Their Beliefs?

In Pakistan the Bhisti people are solidly Muslim, though they incorporate folk religion with Islam. They believe in evil spirits, which puts them in a constant state of fear. They often have village deities, and someone in the village acts as caretaker for this spirit to protect them from natural disasters and sickness. The Bhisti people celebrate Muslim festivals and go to the tombs of Muslim Sufi saints in hopes of gaining favor.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bhisti people need to know the sovereign Lord who can push back the work of evil spirits and free them from fear. They need to depend on Him for their needs, and forsake the spirits they now appease.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Bhisti people's economic well-being as they struggle to make a living in a world that has changed dramatically since their caste began.
Pray for their mental condition, as they are often filled with the fear of the evil spirits.
Pray especially for their souls that they may hear and respond to the one true God who loves them and longs to give them living water.
Pray for a disciple making movement among the Bhisti people that will spread throughout South Asia.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhisti in Pakistan.


References

http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2014/10/11
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/Bhisti-People/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhishti
http://www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/bhisti/


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

People Name General Bhisti
People Name in Country Bhisti
Pronunciation PEESH-tee
Alternate Names Abasi; Abbasi; Bihisti; Chambhar; Mashki; Maski; Mochi; Pakhali; Pakhia; Parkhali; Sakka; Saqqa; Sekh Abbasi; Shaikh Abbasi; Shaikh Saqqa; Sheikh Abbasi; भिस्ती
Population this Country 73,000
Population all Countries 690,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16418
ROP3 Code 111569
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 4
Largest States
Sindh
66,000
Punjab
6,300
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
300
Islamabad
80
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 4
  Sindh 66,000
  Punjab 6,300
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 300
  Islamabad 80
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
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 (36,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
Urdu
21,000
Punjabi, Western
6,200
Saraiki
4,000
Marwari (Pakistan)
2,400
Dhatki
1,700
Kacchi
200
Bagri
100
Pashto, Northern
80
Hindko, Northern
60
Primary Language Sindhi (36,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 10
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 21,000
  Punjabi, Western 6,200
  Saraiki 4,000
  Marwari (Pakistan) 2,400
  Dhatki 1,700
  Kacchi 200
  Bagri 100
  Pashto, Northern 80
  Hindko, Northern 60
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
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 Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
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 Steve Evans - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Global Prayer Digest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024