Gujar Pasi in India

The Gujar Pasi have only been reported in India
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 legend about the origin of the community is that one day a man was going to kill a number of cows. Parashuram was at that time practicing austerities in the jungle. Hearing the cries of the sacred animals he rushed to their assistance, but the cow killer was aided by his friends. So Parashuram made five men out of kusha grass and brought them to life by letting drops of his perspiration fall upon them. Hence arose the name Pasi, from the Hindi pasina (sweat). There are separate Pasi communities, some are Muslim, but most are Hindu. They have subgroups, one of which is the Gujar.
The Gujar Pasi community is scattered throughout many Indian states, but they are also concentrated in Uttar Pradesh.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Despite this flattering legend, the Gujar Pasi people have low status in South Asia, especially among other Hindus. They have "untouchable" status, which is very low. Their occupation involves producing toddy, an alcoholic beverage. Both Hindus and Muslims frown on the use of alcohol, but there is a demand. The Pasi community may have at one time herded pigs, a profession that would give them low status among Muslims.
This community speaks a number of languages, so they might need separate church planting projects for each language group.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gujar Pasi people practice Hinduism, which has left its mark in all countries of South Asia. 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?

This community speaks a number of languages. Separate church planting projects may be needed for each language group. Stories from scripture, films, recordings, and gospel radio for each language spoken by the Gujar Pasi community will be helpful.


Prayer Points

Pray for God to bless every Pasi community economically and spiritually as a testimony of his goodness and power.
May God overthrow spiritual forces of darkness opposing the spread of his gospel among the Gujar Pasi community.
Pray for the followers of Christ that will soon develop within the Gujar Pasi community, that the Lord will provide disciplers, well-grounded in the faith.
Pray the Gujar Pasi community will increasingly be aware of their need to know and follow the creator God.


Scripture Prayers for the Pasi Gujar in India.


References

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-history-of-Pasi-caste
https://www.indianetzone.com/31/pasi_aboriginal_race.htm


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Pasi Gujar
People Name in Country Pasi Gujar
Natural Name Gujar Pasi
Pronunciation GOO-jar PAH-see
Alternate Names
Population this Country 693,000
Population all Countries 693,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 14
PeopleID3 21771
ROP3 Code 118558
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
578,000
Bihar
93,000
Jharkhand
6,300
Madhya Pradesh
3,600
Delhi
3,300
West Bengal
2,200
Maharashtra
1,800
Uttarakhand
1,200
Chhattisgarh
1,000
Punjab
800
Tripura
700
Andaman and Nicobar
200
Assam
40
Haryana
30
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 14
  Uttar Pradesh 578,000
  Bihar 93,000
  Jharkhand 6,300
  Madhya Pradesh 3,600
  Delhi 3,300
  West Bengal 2,200
  Maharashtra 1,800
  Uttarakhand 1,200
  Chhattisgarh 1,000
  Punjab 800
  Tripura 700
  Andaman and Nicobar 200
  Assam 40
  Haryana 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.03 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.94 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.04 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (535,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
40,000
Awadhi
31,000
Magahi
17,000
Maithili
4,100
Kanauji
3,600
Bengali
2,800
Marathi
1,400
Chhattisgarhi
700
Garhwali
700
Punjabi, Eastern
700
Angika
600
Malvi
300
Primary Language Hindi (535,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 40,000
  Awadhi 31,000
  Magahi 17,000
  Maithili 4,100
  Kanauji 3,600
  Bengali 2,800
  Marathi 1,400
  Chhattisgarhi 700
  Garhwali 700
  Punjabi, Eastern 700
  Angika 600
  Malvi 300
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
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 Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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
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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