Most of the Mahtam Sikh (or Rai Sikh) in the Punjab are migrants from Pakistan. They claim to have 36 clans (gotras), including the Goge, Sarari, Kachure, Badwal, Book and Hakwan. The traditional occupations of the Mahtam Sikh were farming, hunting wild boars, fishing and liquor distillation.

Today they are primarily farmers, but many are engaged in other trades as well. They maintain cordial relationships with the scheduled castes and other artisan and service castes of the nearby villages.

Many Mahtam Sikhs now follow the religious teachings of a man named Radha Soami, which has led to less alcoholism and more vegetarianism.

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.

Lack of workers able to carry the gospel message accurately is an ongoing problem throughout South Asia.

Pray the gospel will be proclaimed widely and effectively via gospel radio in the Punjabi languages spoken in Punjab state and beyond.

There are a number of former Sikhs in Punjab who now follow Christ. Pray they will take his great name to the Mahtam community. Pray for a movement of God's Spirit throughout Punjab. There are encouraging developments already.

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