Patari in India

Patari
Photo Source:  Anonymous 
Map Source:  People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
People Name: Patari
Country: India
10/40 Window: Yes
Population: 24,000
World Population: 24,000
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

The Patari are a scheduled tribe of North India. They have four sub-divisions among them. They live in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh and the neighboring parts of Madhya Pradesh. They speak Hindi.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Patari are now farmers and sharecroppers. Many have migrated to the cities but have retained their identity as a separate community.
Some of the Patari are priests called Baigas. They prefer marriages within their group. A community council looks after their needs and settles disputes, often issuing fines. The leaders of the council are called Chaudhary and are regarded as natural leaders.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Patari people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. 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?

The Patari people need to accept the warm embrace of the only savior so they can enjoy spiritually meaningful lives.

Prayer Points

Pray that the community council leaders, the Chaudhary, will come to Jesus Christ and lead others of the Patari to him.
Pray for the authority of Christ to bind hindering spiritual forces to lead them from darkness to light.
Pray for signs and wonders among them and for great breakthroughs with a rapid multiplication of disciples and house churches.
Pray for bold workers who are driven by the love of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.

Text Source:   Joshua Project