This low status people get their name from the word rathbistar, which means an inhabitant of a forest or hilly region.
Where the Hindu Rathawa build their homes are determined by some unusual practices. They won't build homes near a tamarind tree since they think these are haunted by spirits. Instead, they build their settlements near a grove of palm trees. They usually build their houses with no windows, and on elevated ground to prevent flooding.
Rathawas generally act friendly with outsiders. They honor their guests by serving them food in their kitchen. Believers could use this as a great time to tell stories of Jesus!
The Rathawa people in Pakistan practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism acts as a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not possess a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. Other Hindus, like the Brahmins, practice a more philosophical form Hinduism.
Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.
The Rathawa in Pakistan need workers to go to them to share the gospel in their language and within their culture.
Pray for Rathawa believers to be filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit so they can live victorious lives.
Pray for workers to go to the Rathawa people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.
Pray for the translation of the Bible and other resources into their language and distributed in Pakistan.
Pray for Sindhi speaking Rathawa in Pakistan to have the Sindhi Bible and other resources made available to them.
Pray for the establishment of a viable, indigenous and reproducing Rathawa church in both Pakistan and India.
Scripture Prayers for the Rathawa in Pakistan.
https://www.rolfkillius.com/research_rathwa.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rathwa
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Expanded PDF Profile |
People Name General | Rathawa |
People Name in Country | Rathawa |
Pronunciation |
rah-TWAH
|
Population this Country | 9,200 |
Population all Countries | 782,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Rathawa Koli; Rathvi; Rathwa; रठवा |
People ID | 17947 |
ROP3 Code | 113435 |
Country | Pakistan | ||
Region | Asia, South | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 1 |
Sindh 8,900 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
2.69 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
97.31 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Pakistan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Sindhi (6,900 speakers) | |||
Language Code | snd Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 4 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Sindhi (6,900 speakers) |
Language Code | snd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 4 |
Secondary Languages | |
Dhatki 2,000 | |
Kacchi 500 | |
Koli, Wadiyari 30 | |
People Groups | Speaking Sindhi |
Primary Language: Sindhi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1825-1981) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1890-1992) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1954) |
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 | Suyash Dwivedi - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |