Gujar Pasi in India

The Gujar Pasi have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The legend about the origin of the community is that one day a man was going to kill a number of cows. Parashuram was at that time practicing austerities in the jungle. Hearing the cries of the sacred animals he rushed to their assistance, but the cow killer was aided by his friends. So Parashuram made five men out of kusha grass and brought them to life by letting drops of his perspiration fall upon them. Hence arose the name Pasi, from the Hindi pasina (sweat). There are separate Pasi communities, some are Muslim, but most are Hindu. They have subgroups, one of which is the Gujar.
The Gujar Pasi community is scattered throughout many Indian states, but they are also concentrated in Uttar Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Despite this flattering legend, the Gujar Pasi people have low status in South Asia, especially among other Hindus. They have "untouchable" status, which is very low. Their occupation involves producing toddy, an alcoholic beverage. Both Hindus and Muslims frown on the use of alcohol, but there is a demand. The Pasi community may have at one time herded pigs, a profession that would give them low status among Muslims.
This community speaks a number of languages, so they might need separate church planting projects for each language group.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gujar Pasi people practice Hinduism, which has left its mark in all countries of South Asia. Hinduism is 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 have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins. 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.


What Are Their Needs?

This community speaks a number of languages. Separate church planting projects may be needed for each language group. Stories from scripture, films, recordings, and gospel radio for each language spoken by the Gujar Pasi community will be helpful.


Prayer Points

Pray for God to bless every Pasi community economically and spiritually as a testimony of his goodness and power.
May God overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of his gospel among the Gujar Pasi community.
Pray for the followers of Christ that will soon develop within the Gujar Pasi community, that the Lord will provide disciplers, well-grounded in the faith.
Pray the Gujar Pasi community will increasingly be aware of their need to know and follow the creator God.


Scripture Prayers for the Pasi Gujar in India.


References

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-history-of-Pasi-caste
https://www.indianetzone.com/31/pasi_aboriginal_race.htm


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Pasi Gujar
People Name in Country Pasi Gujar
Natural Name Gujar Pasi
Pronunciation GOO-jar PAH-see
Alternate Names
Population this Country 760,000
Population all Countries 760,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 15
People ID 21771
ROP3 Code 118558
ROP25 Code 306586
ROP25 Name Pasi
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 13
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
634,000
Bihar
102,000
Jharkhand
7,000
Madhya Pradesh
4,000
Delhi
3,600
West Bengal
2,500
Maharashtra
2,000
Uttarakhand
1,300
Chhattisgarh
1,200
Punjab
900
Tripura
800
Andaman and Nicobar
200
Haryana
40
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 13
  Uttar Pradesh 634,000
  Bihar 102,000
  Jharkhand 7,000
  Madhya Pradesh 4,000
  Delhi 3,600
  West Bengal 2,500
  Maharashtra 2,000
  Uttarakhand 1,300
  Chhattisgarh 1,200
  Punjab 900
  Tripura 800
  Andaman and Nicobar 200
  Haryana 40
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.04 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.93 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.04 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (422,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 14
Secondary Languages
Awadhi
108,000
Bhojpuri
82,000
Magahi
17,000
Maithili
4,100
Bengali
2,700
Kanauji
2,700
Marathi
1,400
Chhattisgarhi
700
Garhwali
700
Punjabi, Eastern
700
Angika
600
Malvi
300
Bundeli
300
Primary Language Hindi (422,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 14
Secondary Languages
  Awadhi 108,000
  Bhojpuri 82,000
  Magahi 17,000
  Maithili 4,100
  Bengali 2,700
  Kanauji 2,700
  Marathi 1,400
  Chhattisgarhi 700
  Garhwali 700
  Punjabi, Eastern 700
  Angika 600
  Malvi 300
  Bundeli 300
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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.



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