Banjara (Muslim 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 Banjara were traditionally a nomadic community, but today they more commonly are settled and work in agricultural production. They believe that they were originally Hindu and were forcibly converted to Islam. The Muslim Banjara have twelve clans. They live in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are non-vegetarians who eat beef. They maintain cordial relations with neighboring communities and share water sources with them.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. To follow Jesus is to risk upsetting community harmony, and to risk losing family and friends.


What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Banjara people need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life he offers them in John 10:10.


Prayer Points

Pray for spiritual hunger that will draw the Muslim Banjara to Jesus Christ. Pray for materials to help them grow properly, such as recorded or written Scripture, and gospel films. Pray that persons and households of peace will be found among the Banjara who will catalyze movements to Jesus among their own people. Pray for the Banjara community to be able to adequately care for their families, and for widows, orphans, and elderly people to have the care and protection needed.


Scripture Prayers for the Banjara (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Banjara (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Banjara (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation bahn-JAR-ah
Alternate Names Badi; Bhanjara; Bhanjra; Bhojru; Brinjari; Chhakda; Chhakda Banjara; Dhali; Guwaria; Laban; Lambada; Lambana; Lambani; Paracha; Sirkiband; Wanjara; बंजारा (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 101,000
Population all Countries 289,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 17482
ROP3 Code 112893
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 5
Largest States
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
49,000
Punjab
28,000
Sindh
25,000
Islamabad
80
Balochistan
70
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 5
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 49,000
  Punjab 28,000
  Sindh 25,000
  Islamabad 80
  Balochistan 70
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 Saraiki (22,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
Urdu
14,000
Pashto, Northern
14,000
Sindhi
13,000
Hindko, Northern
12,000
Punjabi, Western
11,000
Hindko, Southern
7,500
Marwari (Pakistan)
2,500
Pashto, Central
1,800
Dhatki
500
Pahari-Potwari
300
Balochi, Eastern
30
Primary Language Saraiki (22,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 12
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 14,000
  Pashto, Northern 14,000
  Sindhi 13,000
  Hindko, Northern 12,000
  Punjabi, Western 11,000
  Hindko, Southern 7,500
  Marwari (Pakistan) 2,500
  Pashto, Central 1,800
  Dhatki 500
  Pahari-Potwari 300
  Balochi, Eastern 30
People Groups Speaking Saraiki
Photo Source Kingdom Rain 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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