Did you know that the lead singer of the rock group Queen, Freddy Mercury, was a descendant of Persians who live in India? Many Persians still practice the ancient Persian pre-Islamic religion of Zoroastrianism. They left Persia to escape Muslim persecution. Other Persians in India are Sunni Muslims fled Iran to leave the persecution by the majority Shia. Other Shia Muslim Persians came to India with Babar the founder of the Mughal Dynasty in 1525. The Parsis are some of the wealthiest, most successful people in India. Most speak Hindi, English and the local languages where they live.
The Parsis own businesses and work in the professions. Parsi parents strongly encourage their sons and daughters to graduate from universities. They are among the best educated people in India. They are physicians, engineers, scientists, and leaders in finance. The Parsis tend to marry within their group although marry outside their people is becoming more common. They live in modern Indian cities yet at the same time endeavor to preserve their unique culture and customs.
The Persians typically follow Shia Islam or Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism is the ancient faith of Persia sometimes called "the religion of fire." The prophet Zoroaster began the religion back the in sixth century BC. He taught that life as a cosmological battle between the good, wise God and forces of evil. The good God will triumph in the end times according to their sacred writings. Modern scholars have a difficult time classifying Zoroastrianism since there is no one leader or uniform tradition. Zoroastrian theology features the importance of following the Threefold Path revolving around Good Thoughts, Good Words, and Good Deeds. The believer is to practice charity and venerate nature as God’s creation. Zoroastrians are typically against conversion. One must be born into a Zoroastrian family to participate in the religion.
The Persians need to hear about the true Prophet, Priest and King, Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and bring them into a personal, loving relationship with the God of the Bible. They need to understand that wealth and success will not bring them peace of mind or lasting joy.
* Scripture Prayers for the Persian in India.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Persians a willingness to search and find the true God. Pray for a disciple making movement that among the Persians in India this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Persian people and tell them about Jesus, the good news of God.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Persian |
People Name in Country | Persian |
Population this Country | 7,500 |
Population all Countries | 41,809,000 |
Total Countries | 42 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Fars; Irani; पर्षियन |
People ID | 14371 |
ROP3 Code | 107987 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 20 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 20 |
Maharashtra 3,300 | |
Bihar 1,100 | |
Gujarat 600 | |
West Bengal 400 | |
Uttar Pradesh 400 | |
Madhya Pradesh 300 | |
Delhi 300 | |
Telangana 300 | |
Tamil Nadu 200 | |
Karnataka 200 | |
Uttarakhand 90 | |
Rajasthan 70 | |
Andhra Pradesh 60 | |
Kerala 50 | |
Jammu and Kashmir 50 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.
Primary Language | Persian, Iranian (7,500 speakers) |
Language Code | pes Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Persian, Iranian (7,500 speakers) |
Language Code | pes Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Persian, Iranian |
Primary Language: Persian, Iranian
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1546-1965) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1815-1979) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1845-2014) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | General Ministry Resources |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Persian, Iranian |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Rivka (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
Film / Video | The Prophets' Story |
Film / Video | The Savior 0 - The Savior Trailer |
Film / Video | The Savior 3 - Woman at the Well |
Film / Video | Zume Project - Making Multiplying Disciples |
General | Bible Visuals |
General | Got Questions Ministry |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible Gateway Scripture |
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 India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source | Hamed Saber Creative Commons |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |