Bhatia people of India were warriors in their history. Their main groups are Jats, Halai, Jakhar, Navgam, Kutchi and Veha. They are called by their group name, for example Punjabi Bhatias. They have formed groups or clans. They say they are descendants of Kshatriya or Rajputs. During the sixth century, Raja Bhoopat ruled in Lahore and his dynasty was called the Bhati or Bhatti dynasty from which the Bhatia name originated. Bhatia is a group of people, and a caste found in Punjab, Rajasthan, Sindh, and Gujarat.
Bhatia people are successful in trade, commerce in textiles, cotton, steel, iron, shipping and mining.
They cremate their dead and the ashes are immersed in the River Ganges, which is regarded as holy. Infants to the age of five years old are buried and there is a death pollution period, usually for twelve days, ending with a feast. Widows may not remarry. They have different dress styles depending on where they live.
Some Bhatias are Sikhs and Muslims, but most are Hindu. They worship Hindu gods, their ancestors, and village gods. They follow a Hindu sect called Pushtimarg. They celebrate Hindu festivals, and a New Year festival called Makar Sankranti, exchanging sesame seeds combined with jaggery (unrefined sugar).
Adequate visual, audio, and video Christian resources are available in the Hindi language, but Bhatias only know the ways of their ancestors. The most important need is for Bhatia people, Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh to understand that their good works will never pay the penalty for their sins, and that Almighty Creator God has made provision for them through Jesus Christ.
Pray that Bhatia people will see that their old systems of religion is not working, and that their only hope is in Jesus Christ.
Pray that intercessors worldwide will pray for the salvation of Bhatia people in India.
Pray that soon Bhatia disciples will make more disciples.
References
Scripture Prayers for the Bhatia (Hindu traditions) in India.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
