The Bazigar name comes from the Urdu word "bazi" which means acrobat. The traditional occupation of the Bazigar was that of being acrobats, dancers, musicians, jugglers and wrestlers. The Bazigar once traveled from village to village and hired themselves out as farm laborers. They perform for Hindu, Muslim and Sikh villages.
Today fewer than 1 in 5 Bazigars engage in the itinerate lifestyle. Most have settled down and work in agriculture. They still like to dance, sing, play music and do feats of strength and agility. The Bazigars have been classified as a Scheduled Caste due to their low level of education.
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 does 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.
A low rate of literacy limits the Bazigar Sikhs to audio gospel materials. However, the Bible is available in Punjabi and Urdu. They also live in some of the least reached parts of India.
Pray that the Lord sends workers to the Bazigar to tell them about Jesus and his love for them.
Pray that a strong movement to Jesus will bring whole Bazigar families and communities into a rich experience of God's blessings.
Pray the Bazigar will understand that Jesus desires to bless their families and communities, not harm them.
Pray they listen to gospel radio and watch television broadcasts.
References
Scripture Prayers for the Bazigar (Sikh traditions) in India.
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
