Labana (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: 1

Subgroup Name Population
Gujar 5,900

Introduction / History

Lobanas (or Labana) are a tribe which lives all over the nation of India. It appears to be possibly appropriate to regard the Lobanas as a sub-division of the large Banjara tribe, forming one of their principal sub-castes. Labanas have their own language called Lubanki which is only spoken by Labanas outside the Punjab State of India. Many believe that Lobanas are of Turkish origin and that is why they are also called Banjaras. During travel they had to set up business ventures on their way. The term Lobana appears to have been derived from LUN (salt) and the BANA (trade). The Lobanas were the salt-carrying and salt-trading community. Locally, they were known by different names in parts of the Punjab. There are a couple other views of their origin. In Ludhiana and Jhang Districts, the Labanas claimed to be the descendants of Chauhan Rajputs. A good number of them traced their origin from Gaur Brahmins who came to the Punjab from Ranthambore in Aurangzeb's reign.


What Are Their Lives Like?

As time went on, the Labana Sikhs capitalized on their trading skills and their upward mobility. Now there are wealthy land-owning Labana Sikhs. You can see them throughout India, though most reside in Punjab. Some have moved to Western countries, where they manage businesses.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Lobana people practice different religions. Most Lobana are Sikhs. 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, genderless 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. A Sikh is not permitted to use alcohol, tobacco or any illegal drugs. 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.


What Are Their Needs?

The Lobana need to understand that Jesus is not just another guru. He is the Son of God who can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to give the Lobana a hunger for the Word of God and a desire to investigate the claims of Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement among the Labana people this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Sikh Labana people.


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


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Labana (Sikh traditions)
People Name in Country Labana (Sikh traditions)
Alternate Names Labane; Labhana; Lavana; Lobana; लबाना (सिख ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 376,000
Population all Countries 376,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 8
PeopleID3 18128
ROP3 Code 113634
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 22
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Punjab
300,000
Haryana
17,000
Jammu and Kashmir
12,000
Rajasthan
12,000
Uttar Pradesh
9,700
Delhi
9,200
Uttarakhand
4,400
Maharashtra
4,200
Madhya Pradesh
2,300
Chandigarh
1,400
West Bengal
900
Jharkhand
900
Himachal Pradesh
800
Chhattisgarh
500
Gujarat
400
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 22  (only 20 largest shown)
  Punjab 300,000
  Haryana 17,000
  Jammu and Kashmir 12,000
  Rajasthan 12,000
  Uttar Pradesh 9,700
  Delhi 9,200
  Uttarakhand 4,400
  Maharashtra 4,200
  Madhya Pradesh 2,300
  Chandigarh 1,400
  West Bengal 900
  Jharkhand 900
  Himachal Pradesh 800
  Chhattisgarh 500
  Gujarat 400
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
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
100.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (280,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 14
Secondary Languages
Hindi
40,000
Dogri
2,100
Haryanvi
1,600
Marwari (India)
300
Garhwali
100
Kangri
100
Bilaspuri
90
Pahari, Mahasu
30
Kashmiri
30
Mewari
20
Haroti: Harauti
20
Bengali
20
Wagdi
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (280,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 14
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 40,000
  Dogri 2,100
  Haryanvi 1,600
  Marwari (India) 300
  Garhwali 100
  Kangri 100
  Bilaspuri 90
  Pahari, Mahasu 30
  Kashmiri 30
  Mewari 20
  Haroti: Harauti 20
  Bengali 20
  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)
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Amazon
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Virtual Storehouse
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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
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
Photo Source Anonymous 
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.


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