Halwai (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 Halwais get their name from the word halwa which is a 'sweetmeat made from sugar, flour and butter '. The Halwais are famous as a caste of confectioners and sweet shop owners.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Halwais still maintain their occupation in many places of Pakistan, India and Nepal as sweet shop owners and sellers of sweets and sometimes tobacco. Because their halwa is often eaten at weddings and festivals they have a relatively high social status. The smaller Muslim Halwai however can be found in any number of service or labor jobs. Whereas the Hindu Halwai community in Nepal tend to speak Maithili and Nepali, the Muslim Halwar speak Nepali, Urdu and Awadhi. The Halwai follow the birth, death and marriage traditions of the Sunni Muslim and the Maulvi is the name of the spiritual leader who performs those religious rites.


What Are Their Beliefs?

A large majority of Halwais are Hindus but about 10 percent in India and one percent in Nepal are Muslims. As one might expect, the higher percentage of Halwai Muslims live in Pakistan.


What Are Their Needs?

Once again ministry among the Hindu Halwai population has had success in recent years but among the small number of Muslims no work exists. In India families have shown interest in school-based development programs. Perhaps Muslim-friendly community development projects could benefit this and other Muslim communities.


Prayer Points

Pray that prayer warriors will be raised up who will faithfully intercede for the hard ground of Kalwai hearts to be softened.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among Muslim Kalwai leaders, giving them dreams and visions that open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray that Christ's followers will be called to tell the story about Jesus to everyone in a culturally relevant way, simple and appealing.


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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Halwai (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Halwai (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation hahl-WYE
Alternate Names Methai Walas; हलवाई (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 26,000
Population all Countries 219,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17551
ROP3 Code 112974
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
16,000
Punjab
9,500
Islamabad
60
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 16,000
  Punjab 9,500
  Islamabad 60
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 Sindhi (9,600 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Urdu
5,400
Saraiki
4,900
Punjabi, Western
4,600
Dhatki
500
Marwari (Pakistan)
300
Primary Language Sindhi (9,600 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 5,400
  Saraiki 4,900
  Punjabi, Western 4,600
  Dhatki 500
  Marwari (Pakistan) 300
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 (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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