Dhobi (Hindu traditions) in Nepal


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 Dhobis are a Hindu community who have traditionally washed clothes. Most live in Pakistan, India and Nepal. Smaller numbers are in Sri Lanka.


What Are Their Lives Like?

When a Dhobi girl marries, her dowry usually contains just a few items, but almost always an iron. After the men wash the customers' clothes, the women iron them and keep the money they earn to pay for household expenses. Mothers teach the girls to iron at an early age, and boys help their fathers by washing the smaller articles of clothing and by delivering packages of clean clothes to their owners.
Their diet is mostly vegetables and grains, with an occasional bit of meat.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Dhobis follow popular Hinduism and worship local gods as well as the washing stones. The vast majority remain Hindu, but they have contact with other communities.


What Are Their Needs?

As their ancestors before them, the Dhobis earn their meager living by washing clothes for the higher castes. Their livelihood is being replaced by washing machines.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Dhobi people will hear the gospel and discover that Jesus Christ can wash away their sins.
Pray that believers will tactfully share gospel recordings and play Christian radio broadcasts for Dhobi Hindus.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will give faith to the Dhobis in Nepal.


Scripture Prayers for the Dhobi (Hindu traditions) in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dhobi (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Dhobi (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation DOH-bee
Alternate Names Agasa; Agasaru; Agheria; Bana; Batham; Bhai; Chakala; Chakali; Chakka; Chandbar; Charhoya; Chasa; Chasa Dhoba; Chauhan-Bhatti; Chawla; Chhimba; Darhi; Dharhiadu; Dharhiannan; Dharhiannari; Dhob; Dhoba; Dhobi; Dhopa; Dhopi; Dhupi; Hawari; Jada; Khurdanai; Madivala; Madiwal; Madiyal; Madiyali; Madvali; Madwai; Modiyal; Monson; Nurang; Oddelu; Oddollu; Oriya Chakali; Oriyavallu; Pak; Parit; Prasad Dhobi; Qasab; Raipal; Rajak; Rajaka; Rajakha; Rajpar; Rajput Dhobi; Rajukula; Ram Dhobi; Ramdu; Ranghi; Rathor; Sabhasundar; Sakala; SakalaDarhi; Sakalavadu; Sat-Chasi; Shaheri; Sharma; Sheheri Hindu; Shuklabaidya; Shukladas; Sukladas; Suklavaidya; Tanwar; Tasha; Togata; Tsakala; Vadde Chakali; Vannan; Vannari; Varetha; Varitha; Vattakkadan; Warathi; Watts; धोबी (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 129,000
Population all Countries 14,081,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 16709
ROP3 Code 111944
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 12
Largest States
Lumbini
40,000
Narayani
36,000
Janakpur
26,000
Sagarmatha
13,000
Bheri
7,300
Kosi
5,200
Bagmati
1,000
Mechi
700
Rapti
200
Seti
200
Mahakali
100
Gandaki
80
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 12
  Lumbini 40,000
  Narayani 36,000
  Janakpur 26,000
  Sagarmatha 13,000
  Bheri 7,300
  Kosi 5,200
  Bagmati 1,000
  Mechi 700
  Rapti 200
  Seti 200
  Mahakali 100
  Gandaki 80
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.05 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.95 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Maithili (54,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
37,000
Awadhi
18,000
Nepali
1,900
Hindi
1,000
Angika
200
Magahi
200
Dotyali
30
Rangpuri
10
Primary Language Maithili (54,000 speakers)
Language Code mai   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 37,000
  Awadhi 18,000
  Nepali 1,900
  Hindi 1,000
  Angika 200
  Magahi 200
  Dotyali 30
  Rangpuri 10
People Groups Speaking Maithili

Primary Language:  Maithili

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2010)
Bible-Complete No
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 Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Maithili Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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 Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
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: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Maithili Bible General / Other
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Maithili YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Maithili Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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