Bisati in India


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 Bisati believe they originally came from Pakistan and migrated to north India during the Mughal period. They are peddlers or sellers of merchandise. Their name mean to sell goods spread out on a carpet or mat not in a shop. They sell all types of merchandise such as stationery, bangles, glassware, cotton cloth, needles, pins, knives and other small hardware. Some Bisati have prospered and own large retail stores. Others sell their goods at open markets and village squares.

The main language of the Bisati is Urdu. They also speak Hindi and other regional languages.


Where Are they Located?

Most Bisati today live in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. A smaller number lives in Bihar and Uttarakhand. Some Bisati also reside in Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lives of the Bisati revolve around their Sunni Muslim faith and the selling of goods to others. They are considered a lower to middle class Muslim community in India. In Uttar Pradesh they are classified as a Scheduled Caste and receive special benefits from the government such a public jobs and college admission.

The Bisati are endogamous, that is, they strongly prefer to marry within their caste or clan. Cousin marriages are common. Unfortunately, child marriage of girls is still prevalent. Boys receive the equivalent of a high school education while girls receive only a primary education. Sons inherit the father's property with the eldest son taking responsibility for the family home, his mother and younger siblings. Muslim priests officiate at important family events such as births, wedding and funerals.

The Bisati dead bury their dead.

The Bisati are not vegetarian. As followers of Islam, they do not eat pork. Their main foods are rice, wheat, millet, lentils, dairy products and seasonal fruits and vegetables.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bisati are Sunni Muslims. They strive to follow the teaching of the Qur 'an and the prophet Muhammad. They attempt to obey the five Pillars of Islam in order to achieve salvation. If they have the means they try to make a Hadj or pilgrimage to Mecca one time in their lives. They participate in the yearly monthly fast of Ramadan and the holiday of breaking the fast called Eid al Fitr. Their other main holy day is Eid al Adha, the feast of the sacrifice, which commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bisati need to hear the life-changing message about Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see the love and mercy of Christ lived out in a practical way before them by Christ followers. They must realize that Jesus or Isa is much more than a human prophet as Islam asserts.


Prayer Points

Pray for Christian laborers to have wisdom in applying the pattern Jesus gave in Matthew 10 and Luke 10, leading to blessing among Bisati households.
Pray the Lord will start a movement of Bisati families experiencing God's rich blessings.
Pray the Lord opens the hearts of the Bisati elders so they might receive the forgiveness of sins that only Jesus offers.


Scripture Prayers for the Bisati in India.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisati
revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Bisati
peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/manihar/


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Bisati
People Name in Country Bisati
Alternate Names Feriwala; Manihar; Pathera; Tikulihara; बिसाती
Population this Country 9,000
Population all Countries 9,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16466
ROP3 Code 111631
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
7,100
Bihar
1,200
Uttarakhand
600
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Uttar Pradesh 7,100
  Bihar 1,200
  Uttarakhand 600
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (3,900 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Hindi
3,700
Bhojpuri
300
Garhwali
80
Primary Language Urdu (3,900 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 3,700
  Bhojpuri 300
  Garhwali 80
People Groups Speaking Urdu

Primary Language:  Urdu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1747-1894)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1758-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1843-2022)
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 Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Urdu Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children 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 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 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 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 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Kitab e Muqaddas Urdu General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible App: Urdu Devnagri Bible (उर्दू बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Urdu Injeel Sharif General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Urdu Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Urdu General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Urdu YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Urdu Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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