Bazigar (Sikh traditions) in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Other / Small (Sikhism)
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.

Subgroups: 7

Subgroup Name Population
Dharamsot 9,600
Jogi 9,600
Mushal 9,600
Namsot 9,600
Badia 8,400
Phulwadi 6,800
Lalwadi 800

Introduction / History

The Bazigar or Goaar live in north central India. Their name comes from the Urdu word "bazi" which means acrobat. The traditional occupation of the Bazigar was that of being acrobats, dancers, musicians, jugglers and wrestlers. The Bazigar would travel from village to village. They would hire themselves out as farm agricultural laborers. They would also perform at festivals and holidays as dancers, drummers and acrobats. They would perform for Hindu, Muslim and Sikh villages.

Today less than one out of five Bazigars engage in the itinerate lifestyle. Most have settled down and work in agriculture. They still like to dance, sing, play music and do feats of strength and agility. The Bazigars have been classified as a Scheduled Caste due to their low level of education. In 1981, only 11% of the Bazigar could read and write. Illiteracy continues to be a problem for them today.

The primary language of the Bazigar is Eastern Punjabi. They also speak Hindi.


Where Are they Located?

The Sikh Bazigar live in the Indian states of Punjab, Rajastan and Haryana.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Bazigar now work in agriculture as laborers. They also work as
shopkeepers, public officials and grocers. They raise goats and sheep for their meat and milk. Most do not eat beef or pork. Many Bazigar still have musical and athletic skills, which they perform at important family events and holidays.

The Bazigar marry within their community. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit property with the eldest son gaining possession of the family home. Caste councils promote their interests and settle legal disputes.


What Are Their Beliefs?

If you were to ask a Sikh Bazigar what his or her religion is, they would say Hindu. They believe that Sikhism is a sub category of Hinduism. Sikhism originated from a 15th century teacher named Guru Nanak Dev. He rejected the Hindu caste system, taught all people were equal and that all have equal access to God. The Sikh God is formless, without gender and to be found in everyone. One gets closer to God by living a good life and by practicing charity. Like Hindus, Sikhs believe in reincarnation and the law of karma, you reap what you sow in your previous life. A Sikh is no permitted to use alcohol, tobacco or any illegal drugs. One can recognize a Sikh man by his turban. All the Sikh gurus wore turbans. Sikh teaching mandates that a person not cut his or her hair.


What Are Their Needs?

The Sikh Bazigar need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way the can understand. They need help in educating their children. They need to see Christianity lived out before them in practical ways.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lords sends workers to the Bazigar to tell them about Jesus and His love for them.
Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Bazigar families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray the Bazigar people will understand that Jesus desires to bless their families and communities, not harm them.


Scripture Prayers for the Bazigar (Sikh traditions) in India.


References

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bazigar
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.692.2886&rep=rep1&type=pdf


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Bazigar (Sikh traditions)
People Name in Country Bazigar (Sikh traditions)
Alternate Names Madari; Medari; Mehdri; बाज़ीगर (सिख ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 119,000
Population all Countries 119,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 18054
ROP3 Code 113551
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 on file 5
Largest States
Punjab
97,000
Rajasthan
13,000
Haryana
8,800
Chandigarh
60
Delhi
10
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 5
  Punjab 97,000
  Rajasthan 13,000
  Haryana 8,800
  Chandigarh 60
  Delhi 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Other / Small (Sikhism)
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.01 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
99.99 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (77,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
Hindi
21,000
Marwari (India)
1,200
Haryanvi
900
Bazigar
700
Shekhawati
500
Wagdi
70
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (77,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 7
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 21,000
  Marwari (India) 1,200
  Haryanvi 900
  Bazigar 700
  Shekhawati 500
  Wagdi 70
People Groups Speaking Punjabi, Eastern

Primary Language:  Punjabi, Eastern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1818-1954)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1815-2011)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1959-2021)
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, complete Bible DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Punjabi, Eastern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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
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General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
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General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
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Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible App: Punjabi Bible (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬਾਈਬਲ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Punjabi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Punjabi) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Punjabi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Punjabi Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Punjabi, Eastern Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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