Bohra in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 7

Subgroup Name Population
Sunni 550,000
Shia 398,000
Daudi 62,000
Sulemani 5,800
Alia 4,400
Atba-e-Malak Badar 2,300
Ekthalisi Unknown

Introduction / History

They trace their origin to the Arab community Qaum-e-Bawahas who settled in Surat and Kheda districts. The three endogamous divisions among the Bohra are Surti, Patni and Kanamia Bohr. The Daudi, Salaimani and Alavi are a few groups among them. Gujarati is their main language.

In Rajasthan their mother tongue is Urdu and they use the Perso-Arabic script. The males wear a typical white cap with golden zari. Gujarati is spoken at home. Urdu and Telugu are other languages spoken by them.


Where Are they Located?

They are mostly traders and live in Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bohra women wear a bright green bourdka (veiled dress) that set them apart from the scores of other Muslim women who wear brown, dark blue, or black bourdkas. They pride themselves on being a distinctive, prosperous people. Their tightly knit community, high level of education and business success make them an influential force, often to the envy of other Muslim sects and the Hindu majority. Their staple cereals are wheat and maize. Both parallel and cross-cousin marriages are permitted. Circumcision is observed for male children. Traditionally they are weavers and cloth-painters. Now they are engaged in cloth trade. The Bohra women are generally well educated. They are experts in knitting caps.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They obey Hazrat Ali, the fourth khalipha of Muhammed. West Bengal: Two divisions exist: the Ismali Shia (Daudi Bohra) and the Sunni Bohra. They live in Kolkata, Mushidabad, etc. Andhra Pradesh: They are called Bohara and have come from Gujarat. They live in Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Vishakapatnam and Kurnool. The Bohra of Tamil Nadu follow the Ismaili-shia faith.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Bohras discover that worldly success is worthless compared to the riches of knowing Christ,
Pray that God creates in the Bohras hearts a deep hunger to know Him personally.
Pray that God sends His servants to witness to this people group.


Scripture Prayers for the Bohra in India.


Profile Source:   Etnopedia  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Bohra
People Name in Country Bohra
Pronunciation BORE-uh
Alternate Names Atba-e-Malak Badar; Bawahi; Bohara; Bohoro; Daudi; Ismailia Daudi Bohra; Vohra; बोहरा
Population this Country 1,313,000
Population all Countries 1,320,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 26
People ID 16494
ROP3 Code 111665
ROP25 Code 301306
ROP25 Name Bohra
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Muslim - other
People Group Bohra
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 7
  Sunni 550,000
  Shia 398,000
  Daudi 62,000
  Sulemani 5,800
  Alia 4,400
  Atba-e-Malak Badar 2,300
  Ekthalisi 80
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 15
Largest States
Gujarat
835,000
Maharashtra
321,000
Madhya Pradesh
133,000
Tamil Nadu
6,000
Chhattisgarh
5,900
Kerala
4,400
Rajasthan
4,300
Telangana
2,000
West Bengal
900
Karnataka
500
Daman and Diu
400
Odisha
300
Goa
100
Andhra Pradesh
100
Dadra and Nagar Have
50
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 15
  Gujarat 835,000
  Maharashtra 321,000
  Madhya Pradesh 133,000
  Tamil Nadu 6,000
  Chhattisgarh 5,900
  Kerala 4,400
  Rajasthan 4,300
  Telangana 2,000
  West Bengal 900
  Karnataka 500
  Daman and Diu 400
  Odisha 300
  Goa 100
  Andhra Pradesh 100
  Dadra and Nagar Have 50
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 Gujarati (1,104,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Konkani
5,700
Kacchi
3,400
Sourashtra
900
English
400
Malvi
300
Nimadi
200
Urdu
100
Bengali
80
Primary Language Gujarati (1,104,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Konkani 5,700
  Kacchi 3,400
  Sourashtra 900
  English 400
  Malvi 300
  Nimadi 200
  Urdu 100
  Bengali 80
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

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Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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Photo Source Muffizainu - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Etnopedia  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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