Zargar (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

As late as the 19th century there were reports of highway robbery by the Zargar people, and they had a bad reputation as armed robbers. Their three ancestors probably "migrated" by force to their current homelands in Pakistan and India when three brothers with giftings in goldsmith skills were moved by the Ottoman Empire.

The Zargar people are related to the Romani (Gypsy) peoples through language and culture. Their language, Zargari, is a dialect of Romani.


Where Are they Located?

Hindu Zargar people live all over northwestern India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Though they once had many clans, the Zargar people have since been simplified as a people. Like other peoples, they do not marry between religious communities, so there is no inter-marriage between Muslim and Hindu Zargars.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Zargar people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of Zargar Hindus are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Zargar peoples, be they Hindu, Muslim or Sikh, need to submit to Jesus Christ, and accept His ways so they can enjoy abundant life and forgiveness of sin.


Prayer Points

Pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done among the Zargar people.
Pray for a movement of Zargar households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Zargar people to the arms of Jesus.
Pray for workers who are filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit to go to the Zargar people.


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


References

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


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Zargar (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Zargar (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names Zagani; Zangari; Zangiani; ज़रगर (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 5,400
Population all Countries 15,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17727
ROP3 Code 113179
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
  Jammu and Kashmir 5,400
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 Kashmiri (3,700 speakers)
Language Code kas   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Dogri
400
Urdu
300
Khowar
200
Gujari
100
Khah
30
Primary Language Kashmiri (3,700 speakers)
Language Code kas   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Dogri 400
  Urdu 300
  Khowar 200
  Gujari 100
  Khah 30
People Groups Speaking Kashmiri
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Galen Frysinger 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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