Kabirpanthi 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: 3

Subgroup Name Population
Kir 2,100
Dhanuk Unknown
Chamar Unknown

Introduction / History

The Kabirpanthi means "the path of Kabir", a guru who lived in the 15th century in north India. Kabir's oral teachings were written down after his death. Kabir wanted to find a unity between Hinduism and Islam. He was born into a clan of Muslim Sufi weavers. Kabir did not want Hindus to leave their religion but taught that they should not worship idols. He criticized the caste system and believed that all people were equal. Most Kabirpanthi have a low level of literacy, which hinders their economic advance in Indian society.

Most speak Eastern Punjab and Hindi. Many Christian resources exist in both languages including complete Bibles and the JESUS Film.


Where Are they Located?

Most Kabirpanthi live in the north Indian states Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Modern factories make cloth more efficiently and cheaply than the traditional handlooms of the Kabirpanthi. As a result many of them have found other work as skilled and unskilled laborers. Some have opened shops while others work in construction and forestry. Some work as landless farm workers. The Kabirpanthi are the fourth worker caste of Hinduism. They are eligible for reserved public jobs and special university admissions. Some Kabirpanthi have become educated and work as professionals and businesspersons in cities.

The Kabirpanthi marry within their clans. The bride's family pay a dowry to the groom's family to help set up the household of the new family. Families arrange marriages with the newly married couple living with or near the groom's parents. Sons inherit property with the eldest son becoming head of the family after his father's death.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though there are some Sikhs among them, the large majority of the Kabirpanthi deem themselves to be Hindus. They give special devotion to Vishnu, the preserver god. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Kabirpanthi 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. Kabir taught his followers not to worship idols so they should not pay homage to the physical representations of the gods.

The main yearly holidays of the Kabirpanthi people 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.
A smaller group of Kabirpanthi is Sikh but the orthodox Sikhs will not associate with them.


What Are Their Needs?

The Kabirpanthi need help in educating their children beyond the primary level. Most Kabirpanthi have access to modern medicine and electricity in their villages. The Kabirpanthi need help in learning new job skills. Most of all, the Kabirpanthi need to hear and understand the message of Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and get them right with the one, true God.


Prayer Points

Pray for a movement to Jesus to multiply among Kabirpanthi households.
Pray that God will overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of His Gospel among the Kabirpanthi.
Pray that many of the Kabirpanthi people will come to love the true God with their whole being and will walk in His ways.


Scripture Prayers for the Kabirpanthi in India.


References

https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Kabir_Panthi


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Kabirpanthi
People Name in Country Kabirpanthi
Pronunciation ka-beer-PAHN-tee
Alternate Names Panka; कब्ीर्पान्थिजुगली
Population this Country 92,000
Population all Countries 92,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 21144
ROP3 Code 117966
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
33,000
Himachal Pradesh
14,000
Rajasthan
11,000
Uttar Pradesh
9,300
Delhi
7,200
Uttarakhand
4,000
Maharashtra
3,300
Haryana
2,500
Madhya Pradesh
2,100
Jharkhand
1,600
Chhattisgarh
1,000
Chandigarh
900
West Bengal
800
Gujarat
400
Odisha
300
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 33,000
  Himachal Pradesh 14,000
  Rajasthan 11,000
  Uttar Pradesh 9,300
  Delhi 7,200
  Uttarakhand 4,000
  Maharashtra 3,300
  Haryana 2,500
  Madhya Pradesh 2,100
  Jharkhand 1,600
  Chhattisgarh 1,000
  Chandigarh 900
  West Bengal 800
  Gujarat 400
  Odisha 300
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
1.27 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
98.73 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (52,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 20
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
21,000
Kangri
2,800
Bilaspuri
1,500
Mandeali
1,400
Pahari, Mahasu
800
Marwari (India)
300
Garhwali
200
Bhattiyali
200
Haryanvi
200
Chhattisgarhi
100
Shekhawati
80
Magahi
70
Kinnauri, Pahari
50
Bhojpuri
20
Pahari, Kullu
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (52,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 20
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 21,000
  Kangri 2,800
  Bilaspuri 1,500
  Mandeali 1,400
  Pahari, Mahasu 800
  Marwari (India) 300
  Garhwali 200
  Bhattiyali 200
  Haryanvi 200
  Chhattisgarhi 100
  Shekhawati 80
  Magahi 70
  Kinnauri, Pahari 50
  Bhojpuri 20
  Pahari, Kullu 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 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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