Hajam in Sri Lanka


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 Hajams or Hajjams are also known as the Nai Muslims or Turuk Navid. There is a long-standing tradition of the Hajam being hair-cutters, barbers and manicurists.


Where Are they Located?

The Hajams are found in nearly every part of India and most of Pakistan. In Nepal they can be found in almost any part of the Terai region. A small number live in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Hajam remains a respected caste of hair-cutters (hajamat). In some areas the Hajams are the owners of barber shops and salons. In the Muslim community they can often be an active part of the community as hair-trimming for major family events like weddings and funerals can involve them. Even minor ritual surgeries like circumcision can be conducted by some Hajam. In some communities they can also be match-makers, and some women assist with childbirth. Though they are Sunni Muslims, married women will often be distinguished by a nose-stud and the "bindi" dot on the forehead. They are not vegetarian and will eat beef with their rice, wheat or maize.

Hajam comedians known as shongs appear when a child is born, just before a circumcision, and at weddings. Wearing colorful costumes, singing and dancing, they often act drunk and ask for money during their comedy acts. They are a popular part of the Hajam people group's culture. While the antics of the shongs are entertaining, they also perform the more serious task of teaching Islamic beliefs through rituals and ceremonies, according to a March 3, 2007 article in Star Insight. In what might be compared to America's Halloween, the Hajams have found a way to celebrate, laugh, and, in the case of the jesters themselves, make money within the strict confines of Islam.


What Are Their Beliefs?

This is a Muslim people group. Like other Muslims in South Asia, their form of Islam is affected by the ancient Hindu practices that they see around them. They might pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan each year, and even go on the pilgrimage to Mecca, but on a daily basis they often depend on various spirit beings.


What Are Their Needs?

There is little to no ministry among the Hajams although they are a fairly large Muslim group in Sri Lanka. Even though their community can be slow to adopt new medicine and technology this group remains a strategic people to reach with the gospel as they have far-reaching connection into the Muslim community socially.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Hajam people teachable and understanding hearts.
Pray that a strong movement of the Holy Spirit will bring entire Hajam families into a rich experience of God's blessing.
Pray for Hajam families to be drawn by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness, and to understand the adequacy of Christ's work on the cross.
Pray for teams of believers to do sustained, focused prayer for the Lord to open the hearts of Hajam family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.


Scripture Prayers for the Hajam in Sri Lanka.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Hajam
People Name in Country Hajam
Pronunciation hah-ZHAM
Alternate Names Amrewal; Awadhi; Awadhia; Awari; Bahti; Banbiro; Banvaru; Bhandari; Chabang; Chirath; Dhanwal; Didhia; Ghaijo; Hajjam; Hazam; Jadowal; Jallan; Jarrah; Juvwa; Kaila; Kaith; Kalseru Navaliga; Kanaujia; Karagar; Kelasi; Kelasi Mhali; Khabas; Khalasi; Khalifa; Khalipha; Khurakar; Kshaurak; Mangala; Matkos; Matwal; Mundu; Musalman; Muslim Nai; Nabhik; Nadig; Nai; Nai Muslim; Naia; Napit; Narasundar; Nava; Navaliga; Navid; Nawid; Nayeebrahman; Nayinda; Nhavi; Niaria; Ossan; Ossatha; Osta; Panwari; Paramanik; Punwari; Raja; Rajaji; Sanmukh; Shil; Ustadji; Valand; Valand Nadig; Varik; Vavdichaksi; Wadhi; Wadhio; हजम
Population this Country 5,000
Population all Countries 5,211,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 19655
ROP3 Code 112187
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 9
Largest States
Western
1,200
Eastern
1,100
Central
1,100
North Western
600
North Central
400
Sabaragamuwa
300
Southern
100
Northern
100
Uva
100
Country Sri Lanka
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 9
  Western 1,200
  Eastern 1,100
  Central 1,100
  North Western 600
  North Central 400
  Sabaragamuwa 300
  Southern 100
  Northern 100
  Uva 100
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 Sri Lanka census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamil (5,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Tamil (5,000 speakers)
Language Code tam   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Tamil

Primary Language:  Tamil

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1714-1956)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1715-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1727-2024)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings General Ministry Resources General / Other
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamil Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Comprehensive list of Tamil Resources General / Other
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Pastors Study Bible Tamil Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Tamil Bible (தமிழ் பைபிள்) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamil Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Tamil Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamil YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Tamil Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Tamil Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Steve Evans - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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