Introduction / History

The Dhobis are a Hindu community dedicated to washing clothes. Most live in Pakistan, India and Nepal. Smaller numbers are in Sri Lanka.

They have served communities across the Indian subcontinent for centuries. They trace their roots back to ancient times, providing laundry services to households and businesses. In Pakistan, the Dhobi community continues to play an essential role in maintaining hygiene and cleanliness, adapting to changing societal needs over time.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Dhobi people primarily reside in urban and rural areas where they offer laundry services. Their work involves washing, drying and ironing clothes, often using traditional methods passed down through generations.

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 their daughters 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.

Their diet is mostly vegetables and grains, with an occasional bit of meat.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Dhobis follow popular Hinduism and worship local gods. They also worship their washing stones during the festival of Dussehra. At that time they make offerings of flowers, turmeric and cooked food. The vast majority remain Hindu, but they have regular contact with other communities, especially in Muslim Pakistan. Hindu Dhobis observe rituals and festivals such as Diwali and Holi, worshipping various deities and visiting local temples.

What Are Their Needs?

As their ancestors before them, the Dhobis earn their meager living by washing clothes for the higher castes. Their livelihood is being replaced by washing machines. Most likely they will need to find a different livelihood in the future. They need job training.

Prayer Points

Pray that Hindu Dhobi people will hear the gospel and discover that Jesus Christ is the only one who can wash away their sins.
Pray that Christian believers will tactfully share gospel recordings with Hindu Dhobi people in Pakistan.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will give faith to the Dhobis in Pakistan.

Scripture Prayers for the Dhobi (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhobi
https://www.indianetzone.com/31/dhobi_washerman_caste.htm