Pinjara 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 Pinjara (Pinja, Penja, Bahna or Dhunia) derive their name from the term pinjala meaning 'cotton weaver.' Their traditional occupation is naturally one of cleaning and reeling cotton to make pillows, quilts or even mattresses. It is believed that the Muslim Pinjara converted to Islam about 500 years ago during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb.

The Pinjara can today be found in India, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They live in over 500 districts of India and Nepal and speak more than a dozen different languages depending on their location. The Pinjara speak primarily Bhojpuri, Nepali, Maithili and Urdu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Though many are still involved with the fabric industry, the Pinjara people are expanding to other professions.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although they are well over 90% Muslim the Pinjara can be found to keep Hindu festivals, even making vows to Hindu gods. The Pinjara are not vegetarian though do not eat pork. They occupy a higher than unclean status and can be found as both skilled and unskilled workers.


What Are Their Needs?

Very little ministry activity has focused on the Pinjara. Many Urdu resources are available although there is a severe lack of workers to this sizable Muslim group in India and Nepal. Pinjara are sometimes looked down on religiously because of their mixture of Islam and Hinduism beliefs.


Prayer Points

Pray that the truth will be known and celebrated among the Pinjara community in Pakistan.
Pray there will soon come a day when Pinjara disciples will disciple many others.
Pray for loving and dedicated workers to disciple Pinjara people in Pakistan.


Scripture Prayers for the Pinjara in Pakistan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Pinjara
People Name in Country Pinjara
Pronunciation pin-JAR-ah
Alternate Names Bahana; Bahna; Behana; Behna; Daffali; Dhunia; Dhunkar; Kahrar; Laliwala; Mansoor; Mansoori; Nadaf; Naddaf; Noor; Panjara; Panjora; Panjwara; Penja; Pinara; Pinja; Pinjali; Pinjar; Pinjari; Pinjia; Punji; Shaikh Mansoor; Sheikh Monsoori; Soria; Sulia; Tai; पिंजरा
Population this Country 202,000
Population all Countries 4,005,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 4
PeopleID3 17877
ROP3 Code 113353
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 6
Largest States
Punjab
192,000
Sindh
6,000
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
2,100
Azad Kashmir
1,000
Islamabad
500
Balochistan
200
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 6
  Punjab 192,000
  Sindh 6,000
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,100
  Azad Kashmir 1,000
  Islamabad 500
  Balochistan 200
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 Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Saraiki (110,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
Punjabi, Western
59,000
Urdu
13,000
Marwari (Pakistan)
4,900
Sindhi
2,900
Pahari-Potwari
2,200
Hindko, Southern
1,700
Hindko, Northern
900
Dhatki
300
Primary Language Saraiki (110,000 speakers)
Language Code skr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 9
Secondary Languages
  Punjabi, Western 59,000
  Urdu 13,000
  Marwari (Pakistan) 4,900
  Sindhi 2,900
  Pahari-Potwari 2,200
  Hindko, Southern 1,700
  Hindko, Northern 900
  Dhatki 300
People Groups Speaking Saraiki
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.


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