Bhisti 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 term Bhisti is derived from the Persian word bihisht, meaning paradise, and they were so named on account of the services they rendered to thirsty soldiers. They claim their ancestry from Hazrat Abbas Alamdar, who went to fetch water from a pond in a skin-bag to quench the thirst of the followers of Imam Husain on their way to Damascus. A Bhisti saved the life of an emperor during the Moghul Empire, earning them the respect of some.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bhistis do not have good status in today's India. Their water is used for drinking, for cooling systems and for watering graves.

Today their livelihood is endangered because there are better ways for people to get water. There are water taps in many urban areas. People use these, but so do the Bhistis, who fill their leather pouches with it. Bhistis do not earn much money for their difficult job which includes fetching the water, tying the entrance for the leather container and taking it to customers. They hold the heavy leather pouch at their sides as they walk through busy marketplaces.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bihishti belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. They venerate their village deity, Khera Dev and fear Evil spirits.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bhisti may well have an inadequate understanding of who Jesus (whom Muslims call Isa al-Masih) truly is. Pray the Lord will open their eyes.


Prayer Points

Pray the Bhisti community will increasingly thirst for living water.
Pray for the Bhisti people's economic well-being as they struggle to make a living in a world that has changed dramatically since their caste began.
Pray for their spiritual condition, as they are often filled with the fear of evil spirits.
Pray for a movement to Jesus to multiply among Bhisti families and communities.
Pray the Lord will begin to call out believers.
Pray they will be adequately instructed in the faith and will grow to maturity in Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhisti in India.


References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT1hXSxWntE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4X75EDYYA
https://vikalpsangam.org/article/a-bhisti-ruled-an-empire-once/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bhisti
People Name in Country Bhisti
Pronunciation PEESH-tee
Alternate Names Abasi; Abbasi; Bihisti; Chambhar; Mashki; Maski; Mochi; Pakhali; Pakhia; Parkhali; Sakka; Saqqa; Sekh Abbasi; Shaikh Abbasi; Shaikh Saqqa; Sheikh Abbasi; भिस्ती
Population this Country 647,000
Population all Countries 718,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 13
People ID 16418
ROP3 Code 111569
ROP25 Code 301205
ROP25 Name Bihisti
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 14
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
567,000
Rajasthan
44,000
Uttarakhand
17,000
Madhya Pradesh
11,000
Gujarat
3,100
Maharashtra
3,000
Bihar
500
Delhi
500
Karnataka
500
Himachal Pradesh
400
Chhattisgarh
200
Manipur
50
Odisha
40
Dadra and Nagar Have
30
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 14
  Uttar Pradesh 567,000
  Rajasthan 44,000
  Uttarakhand 17,000
  Madhya Pradesh 11,000
  Gujarat 3,100
  Maharashtra 3,000
  Bihar 500
  Delhi 500
  Karnataka 500
  Himachal Pradesh 400
  Chhattisgarh 200
  Manipur 50
  Odisha 40
  Dadra and Nagar Have 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (527,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marwari
5,000
Braj Bhasha
2,900
Awadhi
2,700
Gujarati
1,800
Kanauji
1,400
Garhwali
1,300
Bundeli
1,200
Mewari
800
Dhundari
800
Hindi
400
Kumaoni
300
Punjabi, Eastern
100
Shekhawati
70
Bhojpuri
60
Marathi
30
Primary Language Urdu (527,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marwari 5,000
  Braj Bhasha 2,900
  Awadhi 2,700
  Gujarati 1,800
  Kanauji 1,400
  Garhwali 1,300
  Bundeli 1,200
  Mewari 800
  Dhundari 800
  Hindi 400
  Kumaoni 300
  Punjabi, Eastern 100
  Shekhawati 70
  Bhojpuri 60
  Marathi 30
People Groups Speaking Urdu

Primary Language:  Urdu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1747-1894)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1758-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1843-2022)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Virtual Storehouse
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Urdu Jesus Film Project
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 Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Steve Evans - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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