The Dhobis are a Hindu community dedicated to washing clothes. Most live in Pakistan, India and Nepal. Smaller numbers are in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Their diet is mostly vegetables and grains, with an occasional bit of meat.
When a Dhobi girl marries, her dowry usually contains just a few items, but almost always an iron. After the men wash the customers' clothes, the women iron them and keep the money they earn to pay for household expenses. Mothers teach the girls to iron at an early age, and boys help their fathers by washing the smaller articles of clothing and by delivering packages of clean clothes to their owners.
Most of the Dhobis follow popular Hinduism and worship local gods as well as the washing stones. The vast majority remain Hindu, but they have contact with other communities.
Since most of their clients are higher status and relatively wealthy, the Dhobis are facing a problem in the 21st century: Washing machines are replacing them. Many will need to find new ways to find employment during the next decade.
Pray that the Dhobi people will hear the gospel and discover that Jesus Christ can wash away their sins.
Pray that believers will tactfully share gospel recordings and play Christian radio broadcasts for Dhobi Hindus.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will give faith to the Dhobis.
Scripture Prayers for the Dhobi (Hindu traditions) in Bangladesh.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Dhobi (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Dhobi (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation |
DOH-bee
|
Alternate Names | Agasa; Agasaru; Agheria; Bana; Batham; Bhai; Chakala; Chakali; Chakka; Chandbar; Charhoya; Chasa; Chasa Dhoba; Chauhan-Bhatti; Chawla; Chhimba; Darhi; Dharhiadu; Dharhiannan; Dharhiannari; Dhob; Dhoba; Dhobi; Dhopa; Dhopi; Dhupi; Hawari; Jada; Khurdanai; Madivala; Madiwal; Madiyal; Madiyali; Madvali; Madwai; Modiyal; Monson; Nurang; Oddelu; Oddollu; Oriya Chakali; Oriyavallu; Pak; Parit; Prasad Dhobi; Qasab; Raipal; Rajak; Rajaka; Rajakha; Rajpar; Rajput Dhobi; Rajukula; Ram Dhobi; Ramdu; Ranghi; Rathor; Sabhasundar; Sakala; SakalaDarhi; Sakalavadu; Sat-Chasi; Shaheri; Sharma; Sheheri Hindu; Shuklabaidya; Shukladas; Sukladas; Suklavaidya; Tanwar; Tasha; Togata; Tsakala; Vadde Chakali; Vannan; Vannari; Varetha; Varitha; Vattakkadan; Warathi; Watts; धोबी (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 717,000 |
Population all Countries | 14,642,000 |
Total Countries | 5 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 14 |
People ID | 16709 |
ROP3 Code | 111944 |
ROP25 Code | 302072 |
ROP25 Name | Dhobi |
Country | Bangladesh | |||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||
Persecution Rank | 26 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||
Total States on file | 7 | |||||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Bangladesh |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 26 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 7 |
Dhaka 204,000 | |
Chittagong 195,000 | |
Barisal 114,000 | |
Sylhet 106,000 | |
Khulna 52,000 | |
Rajshahi 27,000 | |
Rangpur 18,000 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
100.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Bangladesh census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Bengali (132,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 5 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bengali (132,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 5 |
Secondary Languages | |
Sylheti 20,000 | |
Chittagonian 1,700 | |
Kok Borok 500 | |
Bishnupuriya 40 | |
People Groups | Speaking Bengali |
Primary Language: Bengali
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1800-1980) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1801-1984) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1809-2022) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
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. |