Jat (Sikh traditions) in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Jats are immersed in several ethnic groups who retain an identity often based on occupation and heritage. The word "Jat" is from the Arabic word "jatta" referring to the inhabitants of what is now much of Pakistan and Northwest India. They arrived in the sub-continent as invaders yet did not establish ruling dynasties. They were presumably Indo-Iranian who in the course of time they mixed with other invaders and older Indian inhabitants.

The greatest concentrations of Jats are found in states of Punjab and Haryana. They make up to one third of the population in Mirpur (Jammu and Kashmir), Gujranwala Multan, Muzaffargarh, Manipuri, Bahawalpur, Patkiala, Faridkot (Punjab) Rohtak and Mahendragarh (Haryana).


What Are Their Lives Like?

A popular occupation among Jats is farming. A small percentage are traders and laborers.

Jat Sikhs marry in front of Guru Granth Sahib like all other Sikhs. Some just sit and hear the sermons, while others go around the book four time (with rounds called laanvan).

Widow remarriage is allowed but she cannot marry her younger brother-in-law or near relatives of her deceased husband. The dead are cremated except children under seven who are buried.

They eat unleavened bread (roti) and curry, seasonal vegetables, ghee and milk. Girls are tattooed before marriage. Women are fond of jewelry and wear bangles made of ivory, lac (a resinous material) or clay but never glass.

When a man dies, his widow goes around his body seven times in the reverse direction of the one during marriage, indicating the undoing of marriage. She breaks a few of her bangles.


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

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to India and Nepal and share Christ with all Sikh Jat communities.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will soften their hearts towards Jesus to the point where they will give him their full devotion.

Ask God to call out prayer teams to break up the soil through worship and intercession.

Ask the Lord to raise up a triumphant church planting movement among Sikh Jats for the glory of His name.


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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

The Waiting World - The Punjabi

Source:  The Waiting World      Download

People Name General Jat (Sikh traditions)
People Name in Country Jat (Sikh traditions)
Pronunciation jot
Alternate Names Jaut; Langah; Langha; Marth; Newar; जाट, (सिख ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 8,723,000
Population all Countries 9,072,000
Total Countries 6
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 174
People ID 18777
ROP3 Code 114456
ROP25 Code 303344
ROP25 Name Jat
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 36
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Punjab
6,548,000
Haryana
635,000
Rajasthan
438,000
Uttar Pradesh
393,000
Delhi
311,000
Jammu and Kashmir
137,000
Uttarakhand
120,000
Maharashtra
109,000
Madhya Pradesh
83,000
Chandigarh
69,000
Himachal Pradesh
42,000
Chhattisgarh
37,000
Jharkhand
37,000
West Bengal
34,000
Gujarat
34,000
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 36  (only 20 largest shown)
  Punjab 6,548,000
  Haryana 635,000
  Rajasthan 438,000
  Uttar Pradesh 393,000
  Delhi 311,000
  Jammu and Kashmir 137,000
  Uttarakhand 120,000
  Maharashtra 109,000
  Madhya Pradesh 83,000
  Chandigarh 69,000
  Himachal Pradesh 42,000
  Chhattisgarh 37,000
  Jharkhand 37,000
  West Bengal 34,000
  Gujarat 34,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Other / Small
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.02 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
99.98 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (7,540,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 44
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
1,192,000
Bagri
217,000
Haryanvi
67,000
Dogri
21,000
Saraiki
14,000
Marwari
11,000
Kangri
7,600
Awadhi
5,000
Gujarati
4,400
Kumaoni
4,300
Chhattisgarhi
3,200
Marathi
2,900
Kashmiri
2,700
Bengali
2,500
Garhwali
2,300
Primary Language Punjabi, Eastern (7,540,000 speakers)
Language Code pan   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 44
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 1,192,000
  Bagri 217,000
  Haryanvi 67,000
  Dogri 21,000
  Saraiki 14,000
  Marwari 11,000
  Kangri 7,600
  Awadhi 5,000
  Gujarati 4,400
  Kumaoni 4,300
  Chhattisgarhi 3,200
  Marathi 2,900
  Kashmiri 2,700
  Bengali 2,500
  Garhwali 2,300
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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Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
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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
Photo Source Adnan Mughal - Pexels  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Video Source The Waiting World
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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