Dhakad in India

Dhakad
Photo Source:  Copyrighted © 2024
Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source:  People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Dhakad
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 848,000
World Population: 848,000
Primary Language: Hindi
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 0.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.00 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia Hindu - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Traditionally the Dhakad were farmers. They live in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

A sacred thread (janeu) is the symbol of a married Dhakad man. They do not allow intercommunity marriages. The Brahmin conduct their rituals, the Dhobi wash their clothes on the occasions of birth and death, and the Nai shave off their hair. After a father's death, the family deity is given to the eldest son as he is the successor. Family property is inherited equally by all the male children.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They worship family, clan, and village deities like Gaondei and Banjari Mata. Their chief god is Balram, from whom they trace their descent.

What Are Their Needs?

Workers can expect opposition as Jesus is presented to a people who have worshipped spiritual beings that have held them in bondage for generations. Evangelists and church planters in other Indian people groups need to be led to the Dhakad community.

Prayer Points

Even though there no known followers of Jesus today among the Dhakad, pray that God will be arranging encounters between many in this group and believers who will be obedient to the Spirit in sharing Christ with them.

Please pray all the Dhakad people will be set free from the worship of created things.

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will lead them to a movement to Christ.

Pray for Holy Spirit anointed workers in the Dhakad community.

Text Source:   Joshua Project