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 |
