Koli (Hindu traditions) 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 Koli Hindu community is a people group in Pakistan, primarily concentrated in the Sindh and Punjab provinces. They are believed to be descendants of the indigenous people of the Indian subcontinent and have their own unique cultural practices, customs, and traditions.

They have their own distinctive language, Koli, which is a dialect of Sindhi. Many Koli Hindus also speak Punjabi and Urdu, which are the official languages of Pakistan.

Despite their small numbers, the Koli Hindus have contributed significantly to Pakistani society. Many have excelled in the fields of politics, education, and business. However, like other minority groups in Pakistan, the Koli Hindus have faced discrimination and marginalization, particularly in terms of access to education and job opportunities.


Where Are they Located?

The Kolis live in Pakistan's Sindh Province and many of India's northern states. Kolis in Pakistan are concentrated in the Thar Desert, east of the Indus River. Most of the Thar Desert is in India, and it forms a natural boundary between these two hostile nations. It is one of the world's largest desert regions.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Koli Hindus are mainly involved in agriculture and animal husbandry, although some also work as laborers or artisans.

Life is hard in the Thar Desert for the Koli people, especially the women who must collect firewood and water each day.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Koli Hindu community is predominantly Hindu, although there are some who practice Islam or Sikhism. They celebrate various Hindu festivals, including Diwali and Holi, and have their own unique traditions and customs associated with these events.


What Are Their Needs?

The Koli peoples do not have adequate drinking water. Every day the women have to collect water and firewood from a distant source. Christians can help them with these needs by helping with well projects. The Koli people need to hear that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and there is no other. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves.


Prayer Points

Pray for a team of knowledgeable believers to help the Koli people build and maintain wells in their desert homeland.
Pray for the Koli people to have easy access to the many Christian resources that are available to them in the Sindhi language.
Pray for a disciple-making movement to begin among the Koli people and spread to other Muslim peoples in Pakistan.


Scripture Prayers for the Koli (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan.


References

http://www.dawn.com/news/1102038
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koli_people
http://kcm.co.kr/bethany_eng/clusters/8081.html
http://www. Prayway.com/unreached/clusters/8081.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thar_Desert


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

People Name General Koli (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Koli (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation KOH-lee
Alternate Names Bunkar; Buntar; Chamar-Julaha; Dhimar; Kabaria Dagi; Kaperdia; Kapre; Kili; Koda; Koli of Gujarat; Koli Patel; Kora; Koral; Kori; Koria; Kuli; Macchi Koli; Machhi Koli; Machikoli; Mahar-Kili; Malhar; Shilpakar; Shilpkar; Tantubais; Taru; कोली
Population this Country 281,000
Population all Countries 2,811,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
PeopleID3 17247
ROP3 Code 112615
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 3
Largest States
Sindh
280,000
Balochistan
500
Punjab
300
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 3
  Sindh 280,000
  Balochistan 500
  Punjab 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.76 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.24 %
Islam
0.00 %
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 (166,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Dhatki
93,000
Kacchi
5,700
Saraiki
3,500
Koli, Parkari
3,400
Punjabi, Western
900
Koli, Kachi
800
Urdu
600
Koli, Wadiyari
500
Marwari (Pakistan)
200
Bagri
200
Primary Language Sindhi (166,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Dhatki 93,000
  Kacchi 5,700
  Saraiki 3,500
  Koli, Parkari 3,400
  Punjabi, Western 900
  Koli, Kachi 800
  Urdu 600
  Koli, Wadiyari 500
  Marwari (Pakistan) 200
  Bagri 200
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 Meena Kadri - 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.


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