Dhobi (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: 11 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Ajudhyabansi Unknown
Batham Unknown
Catholic Madvoi Unknown
Kanaujia Unknown
Katharia Unknown
Kathiya Unknown
Mathuria Unknown
Modh Randha Unknown
Parit Unknown
Ranghidhobi Unknown

Introduction / History

The Dhobi are a large collective community of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. They derive their name from the Sanskrit term dahv which means 'wash.' The Dhobi are traditionally the clothes washers. They are a schedule caste in many of the states of India, where the majority of the Dhobi live.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Today more than most South Asian communities the Dhobi have maintained their traditional occupation of washing clothes and running laundry services. Others have started their own businesses.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Sikhism originated from a 15th century teacher named Guru Nanak Dev as a reform movement. He rejected the Hindu caste system, taught that all people were equal and that all have equal access to God. The Sikh God is formless, without gender and is 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. Like Muslims, the Sikhs worship only one God.

One may recognize a Sikh man by his distinctive turban. All the 10 great Sikh gurus wore turbans. Sikh teaching mandates that a person not cut his or her hair. They worship their holy book, the Granth Sahib, which is a collection of hymns.

There are roughly the same number of Sikhs as there are Jews in the world, but Sikhs are most concentrated in Punjab, their homeland. However, you will find smaller numbers of Sikhs all over the world. Many of the best Indian restaurants in the West are owned and operated by Sikhs.


What Are Their Needs?

Though some small success has come in ministry to the Hindu Dhobi, the Muslim and Sikh Dhobi have no known believers. In general, the attitude of the Dhobi to education is quite good.


Prayer Points

Pray that followers of Jesus will reach many Sikh Dhobis with the biblical truths such as the parables of Jesus, so they will know God's true nature.

Pray that they will come to rejoice in knowing him.

Ask God to raise up Sikh Dhobi who are more desirous to know the truth than to stay on the broad road to death.

Ask God to send loving, committed workers to the Dhobi in the near future.

Pray the Dhobi would no longer be hidden away from the influence of Christ.


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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dhobi (Sikh traditions)
People Name in Country Dhobi (Sikh traditions)
Pronunciation DOH-bee
Alternate Names धोबी (सिख ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 10,000
Population all Countries 10,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18066
ROP3 Code 113565
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Sikh - other
People Group Dhobi (Sikh traditions)
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 11
  Ajudhyabansi 0
  Batham 0
  Catholic Madvoi 0
  Kanaujia 0
  Katharia 0
  Kathiya 0
  Mathuria 0
  Modh Randha 0
  Parit 0
  Ranghidhobi 0
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 8
Largest States
Punjab
7,800
Haryana
1,800
Delhi
300
Jharkhand
200
Chandigarh
200
Rajasthan
100
Uttarakhand
40
Himachal Pradesh
30
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 8
  Punjab 7,800
  Haryana 1,800
  Delhi 300
  Jharkhand 200
  Chandigarh 200
  Rajasthan 100
  Uttarakhand 40
  Himachal Pradesh 30
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
0.22 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
99.78 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (7,700 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Hindi
1,300
Haryanvi
200
Wagdi
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (7,700 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 1,300
  Haryanvi 200
  Wagdi 10
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)
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 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
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
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
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