Bohra in India
Photo Source:
Muffizainu - Wikimedia
Creative Commons
|
Map Source:
People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
|
| People Name: | Bohra |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 1,249,000 |
| World Population: | 1,256,500 |
| Primary Language: | Gujarati |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Muslim - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
|
Introduction / History
Bohras They trace their origin to the Arab community Qaum-e-Bawahas who settled in Surat and Kheda districts. The three endogamous divisions among the Bohra are Surti, Patni and Kanamia Bohr. The Daudi, Salaimani and Alavi are a few groups among them. Gujarati is their main language.
In Rajasthan their mother tongue is Urdu and they use the Perso-Arabic script. The males wear a typical white cap with golden zari. Gujarati is spoken at home. Urdu and Telugu are other languages spoken by them.
They are mostly traders and live in Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
What Are Their Lives Like?
Bohras pride themselves on being a distinctive, prosperous people. Traditionally they are weavers and cloth-painters. Now they are engaged in cloth trade. TTheir tightly knit community, high level of education and business success make them an influential force, often to the envy of other Muslim sects and the Hindu majority.
Their staple cereals are wheat and maize. They allow for both parallel and cross-cousin marriages. They circumcise their boys like other Muslim communities.
Bohra women are generally well educated. They are experts in knitting caps. Bohra women wear a bright green bourdka (veiled dress) that set them apart from the scores of other Muslim women who wear brown, dark blue, or black bourdkas.
What Are Their Beliefs?
They obey Hazrat Ali, the fourth khalipha of Muhammed. West Bengal: Two divisions exist: the Ismali Shia (Daudi Bohra) and the Sunni Bohra. They live in Kolkata, Mushidabad, etc. Andhra Pradesh: They are called Bohra and have come from Gujarat. They live in Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Vishakhapatnam and Kurnool. The Bohra of Tamil Nadu follow the Ismaili-shia faith.
What Are Their Needs?
Pray that the Bohras discover that worldly success is worthless compared to the riches of knowing Christ.
Pray that God creates in the Bohras hearts a deep hunger to know him personally.
Pray that God sends his servants to witness to this people group.