Mahtam (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Mahtam clan can be Sikh, Hindu or Muslim. They might live in either India or Pakistan. There are many differing stories of their origins. The Hindus and Sikhs among them are very few in number in Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They have been known as cultivators and clearers of the forests.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Though there are a lot more Mahtam people who are Sikh, there are Muslims and Hindus among them as well. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins. Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

Whether they are Hindu, Muslim or Sikh, the Mahtam community needs to put Christ as the center of their lives so they can experience His abundant blessings. The JESUS Film, translated into their Western Punjabi language, collects dust on a shelf next to translated Bibles and gospel recordings. They hold the answer for the Mahtam people, but there is no ambassador of Christ available to offer them. There has been no church planting work among them for many years.


Prayer Points

Pray for workers and intercessors. Pray for spiritual hunger that will lead them to the only Savior. Pray that Indian believers will lead the Mahtam people to begin their own movement to Christ.


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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mahtam (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Mahtam (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation mah-TAHM
Alternate Names Rai Sikh; महटाम (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 7,100
Population all Countries 163,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17407
ROP3 Code 112807
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Punjab
6,800
Sindh
300
Country Pakistan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 7  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 2
  Punjab 6,800
  Sindh 300
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 Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Saraiki (5,300 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Marwari (Pakistan)
1,300
Dhatki
300
Punjabi, Western
100
Sindhi
50
Primary Language Saraiki (5,300 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Marwari (Pakistan) 1,300
  Dhatki 300
  Punjabi, Western 100
  Sindhi 50
People Groups Speaking Saraiki
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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