Mazhabi (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.

Introduction / History

The Mahatam call themselves Rai Sikh. They speak Punjabi and read and write in Gurmukhi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Many of the Mahatam work in agriculture. They are non-vegetarian and eat wheat, maize and rice as cereals. Some are in government service. Only boys get educated among them. They use modern medicine.

The Mahatam people are endogamous, meaning they prefer to marry within their group. They allow for divorce on certain grounds such as adultery and not being able to have children. They allow remarriage but not for older widows. On the death of the father, sons inherit the property with the oldest son taking charge of the family estate.


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?

Like all other peoples of the world, this people group needs the blessings and guidance that only Jesus Christ can offer.


Prayer Points

Pray that Indian Christians will lead the Mahatam into a disciple making movement.

Pray that gospel materials and the internet will provide them what they need to begin home groups.

Pray for dreams and visions to draw their elders to the throne of grace.


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


References

Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mazhabi (Sikh traditions)
People Name in Country Mazhabi (Sikh traditions)
Pronunciation MAH-zuh-bee
Alternate Names राई (सिख ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 3,236,000
Population all Countries 3,236,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 65
PeopleID3 20902
ROP3 Code 117667
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 17
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Punjab
2,892,000
Rajasthan
165,000
Haryana
146,000
Uttar Pradesh
14,000
Uttarakhand
6,700
Delhi
2,700
Chandigarh
2,600
Jammu and Kashmir
2,100
Jharkhand
1,500
Maharashtra
1,100
Madhya Pradesh
900
West Bengal
600
Himachal Pradesh
500
Bihar
200
Odisha
200
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 17
  Punjab 2,892,000
  Rajasthan 165,000
  Haryana 146,000
  Uttar Pradesh 14,000
  Uttarakhand 6,700
  Delhi 2,700
  Chandigarh 2,600
  Jammu and Kashmir 2,100
  Jharkhand 1,500
  Maharashtra 1,100
  Madhya Pradesh 900
  West Bengal 600
  Himachal Pradesh 500
  Bihar 200
  Odisha 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Other / Small (Sikhism)
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.01 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
98.99 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (2,298,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
Hindi
441,000
Haryanvi
21,000
Marwari (India)
2,500
Shekhawati
1,000
Wagdi
80
Bhojpuri
60
Dogri
60
Kangri
20
Bilaspuri
10
Churahi
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (2,298,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 11
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 441,000
  Haryanvi 21,000
  Marwari (India) 2,500
  Shekhawati 1,000
  Wagdi 80
  Bhojpuri 60
  Dogri 60
  Kangri 20
  Bilaspuri 10
  Churahi 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
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Arsh Photography - Pixabay 
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.


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