Megh (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

The Megh (Muslim traditions) have only been reported 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 Meghwal people are mostly in northern India and eastern Pakistan. Those in Pakistan speak Sindhi, Marwari and Saraki.

The Meghwals were originally Mahars from Maharashtra (meaning the place or land of the Mahars) and a very low caste group. To get away from their low caste status they migrated and changed their name 26 times as they came through Rajasthan and Sind 16 times.

When the Meghwals reached Baroda State in present-day Gujarat they approached the Christians to become part of their group. However, the Christians did not want them and turned them away.

Many of the Meghwals live on both sides of the Pakistan-India border. Around 1900 three major famines took place. Many of the Meghwal traveled across the "Rajasthan or Thar Desert" towards the Indus river to try and escape.

The Meghwals had been changing their names when they reached the Northeast of Rajasthan settled in the hills of Marwar taking on the language of Marwari.

Four major Meghwals groups known and recognized for the area from which they came, moved west into southern Punjab and Sind. There are other smaller groups they all speak Marwari. Meghwals in the southern Sind often are called Meghwar. A smaller group called themselves the Meg or Megh, moved north into the Sialkot area spoke Marwari and learned Punjabi. There is another Meghwal group that came through Gujarat and Sind that are called Sindhi Meghwals, they speak Saraki.

A few Meghwals (Megs) came to Christ in the 1860s. They were the ones that led the Punjabi Christian (Chuhras) to the Lord. Without the Megs there would be few Christians.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Megh people are mainly an agricultural community. They farm and raise livestock, especially sheep. They are famous for their weaving skills and embroidery.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Megh people are almost all Hindu, but there are some Muslims among them. Muslims in South Asia often blend Hindu practices with their form of Islam. Officially Muslim Megh people are dedicated to Allah, the God of Islam, but in reality, they look elsewhere for their daily spiritual and physical needs.


What Are Their Needs?

The Muslim Megh people need to find their way back to the God of Creation and put all their faith in Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray the Lord will give Megh families understanding and responsive hearts as they hear about the love of Christ. Pray they will accurately understand the message of Christ and be able to teach it accurately to others in their community until there is a movement to Christ. Pray for an improvement in living conditions for this low caste community, for educational opportunities for the children, and employment opportunities for the adults. Pray for spiritual hunger among their elders that will open them to responding to the claims of Christ.


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


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghwal


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Meghwal (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Megh (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation meeg
Alternate Names Kabirpanthi; Meg; Megh; Meghwar; Mihngh; Sindhi Meghwal; मेघ (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 58,000
Population all Countries 58,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17619
ROP3 Code 113053
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 4
Largest States
Sindh
57,000
Punjab
700
Islamabad
300
Gilgit-Baltistan
100
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 4
  Sindh 57,000
  Punjab 700
  Islamabad 300
  Gilgit-Baltistan 100
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 (35,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Urdu
9,500
Punjabi, Western
5,600
Dhatki
3,100
Saraiki
2,200
Kacchi
500
Marwari (Pakistan)
200
Goaria
80
Hindko, Southern
80
Primary Language Sindhi (35,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 9,500
  Punjabi, Western 5,600
  Dhatki 3,100
  Saraiki 2,200
  Kacchi 500
  Marwari (Pakistan) 200
  Goaria 80
  Hindko, Southern 80
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
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