The Chhipa claim that they were once Rajputs who were imprisoned by Taimur (a Turco-Mongol conqueror from the 1300s) and they escaped and became known as "Chhipa" Rajputs, after the Hindi word for hidden. Others say the word "Chhipa" is connected with a Hindi word for "to print."
The word "rangrez" means a dyer in the Persian language, and the community has been connected with this occupation, while others were tailors and washermen. They have three subdivisions: the Lalgarh, Nilgarh, and Chhipi. Chhipi are placed in the lowest position, because they dyed and printed clothes whereas the Lalgarh and Nilgarh generally prepare color from indigo.
Though most live in India, many Rangrez people, including members of the Chhipa subgroup, have immigrated to Pakistan. Today members of the Chhipa community live scattered throughout central India and in Pakistan's Sindh Province.
Today the Chhipa people are either involved with their traditional work of printing on cloth while others are either small businessmen or farmers.
The Chhipa people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
They also visit the shrines of various Sufi saints in hopes of gaining favor from those whom they believe are close enough to Allah to answer their prayers.
The Chhipa people who work as cloth printers need new markets for their products. Perhaps people of faith can be used of God to help them find new markets outside of Pakistan.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work mightily in their communities, blessing them in every way.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Chhipa people a love for God's word and a desire to spread its influence.
Pray for signs and wonders among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.
Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.
Scripture Prayers for the Chhipa (Muslim traditions) in India.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Chhipa (Muslim traditions) |
People Name in Country | Chhipa (Muslim traditions) |
Alternate Names | Bhavsar; Chhipigar; च्चिपा (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 99,000 |
Population all Countries | 105,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 17504 |
ROP3 Code | 112920 |
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 | 6 | ||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 6 |
Uttar Pradesh 59,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 25,000 | |
Gujarat 9,300 | |
Bihar 3,600 | |
Uttarakhand 90 | |
Dadra and Nagar Have 30 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
100.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Urdu (73,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 7 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (73,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 7 |
Secondary Languages | |
Gujarati 7,100 | |
Bhojpuri 900 | |
Malvi 600 | |
Bundeli 500 | |
Awadhi 80 | |
Chhattisgarhi 50 | |
People Groups | Speaking Urdu |
Primary Language: Urdu
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1747-1894) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1758-2000) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1843-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
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. |