The Khatri are a trading and business caste, which originated in Punjab. Their name comes from the Sanskrit word "Kshatriya" which is the second of the four castes of Hinduism. In the early 19th century, they almost had a monopoly on trade in Punjab and Afghanistan. During the British times, they were the chief civil administrators.
Traditionally, they specialized in trading in cloth but now have expanded to spectacles, flour grinding mills, grain shops and work as painters and tailors. Many members belong to the middle class and have entered teaching and civil service professions. They are found largely in Punjab of India and Pakistan but little known outside Punjab. They are one of the most advanced and progressive communities in India and value education. They will only eat food cooked by Brahmins or caste members.
They have a legend that when Parasurama (the sixth Avatar of Vishnu) was engaged in subduing the Kshatriyas in the interests of the Brahmins, he caused as many Kshatriya women as possible to have violent miscarriages. Some pregnant Kshatriya women took refuge with Saraswat Brahmin families who protected them to the point of eating with them to show Parasurama that they were Brahmin women. The children born of these women became the Khatri.
Saraswat Brahmins and Khatris still eat together giving credence to this story. Another more recent legend, has Khatris serving as soldiers in the Dakshin wars over a thousand years ago. Many died in the war and out of pity the council of the most respected Khatri in Delhi proposed widow remarriage. The clan headmen Lallu and Jaghdar opposed the concept and the council dissolved without a decision. The Emperor dismissed Khatri soldiers from military service and asked them to take up being Dalals (brokers). They proved to be excellent soldiers and governors of many states.
Men and women marry within the community. Earlier, child-marriage was practised but now adult marriage is the norm. The elders of the family negotiate marriage alliance. The giving of gifts is mutual. Adult marriages is the norm though child marriages used to be favoured. Divorce is traditionally not allowed, but due to modernization, divorce is allowed under extreme maladjustment. Both nuclear and extended family types are found. The elders command respect and authority while the younger members receive love and affection from elders. Their women have a reputation for outstanding beauty. Women generally wear sarees or salwar-khameez in the north. They are both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Only men drink alcohol and smoke.
Khatris take their religion seriously. They celebrate traditional Muslim, Hindu and Sikh festivals and fasts as applicable. Muslims will go to Masjid and for Haj pilgrimage. Sikhism was founded by Khatris and some of their well known leaders, Guru Nanak and Guru Govind, were Khatris. Hindu Khatri are staunch, practising Hindus.
* Scripture Prayers for the Khatri (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.
Profile Source: India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Global Prayer Digest: 2015-10-18 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2019-08-05 |
People Name General | Khatri (Muslim traditions) |
People Name in Country | Khatri (Muslim traditions) |
Pronunciation | KAH-tree |
Population this Country | 1,128,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,186,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 23 |
Alternate Names | Katri; Khakha; Khakha Khatri; Khakhar; Khattri; Rangara; खत्री (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स) |
People ID | 17586 |
ROP3 Code | 113015 |
Country | Pakistan | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | 8 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||
Total States on file | 6 | ||||||
Largest States |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 8 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 6 |
Punjab 1,008,000 | |
Sindh 81,000 | |
Islamabad 38,000 | |
Gilgit-Baltistan 600 | |
Balochistan 400 | |
Azad Kashmir 90 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Punjabi, Western (614,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | pnb Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 12 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Punjabi, Western (614,000 speakers) |
Language Code | pnb Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 12 |
Secondary Languages | |
Saraiki 259,000 | |
Hindko, Southern 121,000 | |
Urdu 73,000 | |
Pahari-Potwari 62,000 | |
Sindhi 47,000 | |
Marwari 12,000 | |
Pashto, Central 5,400 | |
Dhatki 1,800 | |
Bagri 1,300 | |
Balti 50 | |
Hindko, Northern 20 | |
People Groups | Speaking Punjabi, Western |
Primary Language: Punjabi, Western
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1885-1922) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1819-1952) |
Bible-Complete | No |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | DAVAR Partners recording, New Testament |
Audio Recordings | Love letter to you from scripture |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture / Bible |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Punjabi, Western |
Film / Video | The Return |
Film / Video | The Return |
General | Biblical answers to your questions |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | Gospel resources links |
General | Gospel website in this language |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Punjabi, Western |
Text / Printed Matter | Cartoon Gospel tract |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Punjabi, Western |
Text / Printed Matter | Tools for faith conversations |
Text / Printed Matter | Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies |
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 Pakistan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Naveed Akhtar |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |