Deshwali (Muslim traditions) 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 Deshwali are a Rajput subcaste that lives in Punjab and Rajasthan. Their name is a combination of two Persian words which combined mean "land lord" or "feudal lord." At one time they were members of the private army of Prithvi Raj Chauhan. They were among the first peoples to adopt Islam in India which came to them from the preaching of Mainuddin Chishti, a Sufi saint.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Deshwali people have no system of gotras. They often marry their cousins. Today they are medium to large scale farmers, though there are a small number of sharecroppers and landless farmers among them. Some own small businesses, and more of them are getting advanced education.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Deshwali people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah. In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. The often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

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


Prayer Points

Pray that Deshwali people will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings. Pray for workers who are driving by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them. Pray for a Disciple Making Movement among them to begin this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Deshwali (Muslim traditions) in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deshwali
https://dbpedia.org/page/Deshwali


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Deshwali (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Deshwali (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names Deshwali; देशवाली (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 7,600
Population all Countries 9,600
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17518
ROP3 Code 112935
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)
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 1
  Rajasthan 7,600
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 Wagdi (2,800 speakers)
Language Code wbr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Hindi
1,900
Marwari (India)
1,400
Urdu
700
Dhundari
20
Primary Language Wagdi (2,800 speakers)
Language Code wbr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 1,900
  Marwari (India) 1,400
  Urdu 700
  Dhundari 20
People Groups Speaking Wagdi
Photo Source Anonymous 
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.


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