Bishnois were founded by a Rajput of Bikaner, who was born in 1451 A.D. The adherents of the sect are the descendants of immigrants from Bikaner, parts of Haryana and Punjab and are exclusively Jats or some Rajputs by caste, though they often abandon the caste name and describe themselves simply as Bishnois.
The Bishnois are presently spread over the western parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
Bishnois are lovers of wild animals. It is because of their protection that in Bishnoi-dominated areas, deer and antelope are seen grazing in their fields despite the fact that the state of Rajasthan where most Bishnois live, faces severe water shortages. In recent years, the Bishnoi community has launched protests against the killing of black bucks by Salman Khan, a Bollywood film star and Mansur Ali Khan of Pataudi, a former Indian cricketer.
They are teetotalers and normally they wear white shirt, dhoti and turban. This dress pattern is ideal for the hot dry desert climate. They pay special attention to cleanliness in their houses. Only one crop of pearl millet (bajra) is grown during the monsoon season. The bushes, which grow in the fields, protect the loose sand from wind erosion and provide the much-needed fodder for animals during a famine. Bishnois often live in little hamlets called 'Dhannis', with just a few round huts with intricate thatched roofs. The mud floors are plastered with cow dung to keep vermin away. The interiors are airy and clean. There is a granary to guard their rations and a sump for stored water.
Bishnois in Haryana and Punjab are much wealthier than other castes. The Bishnois are noted for being excellent farmers, but they have extended themselves into the fields of IT as engineers or the government sectors as militants or social workers. They have been known to intermarry with Jat people and Rajputs as well as among themselves.
The most prominent pilgrimage place of the Bishnois is situated at village called Mukam in Rajasthan. They have other important pilgrimage sites as well.
There are some good foundations for the gospel to make headways into Bishnoi culture. They love nature; they need to be introduced to the one who created nature. They have high morals; they need to know the one who gave us the 10 commandments.
Pray that the Bishnois will have a spiritual hunger that will open their hearts to the King of kings.
Pray for workers who are driven by the love and boldness of the Holy Spirit to go to them.
Pray for a movement to Christ among them to begin this decade.
Scripture Prayers for the Bishnoi (Hindu traditions) in India.
Sandeep Bishnoi
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2020/03/31
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2012/09/20
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishnoi
https://www.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-india-conservationist-sect-20180517-htmlstory.html
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
Global Prayer Digest: 2006-09-20 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-09-20 |
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-03-31 |
People Name General | Bishnoi (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Bishnoi (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | bish-NOY |
Alternate Names | Bishnoi; Bisnoi; Marwadi; Marwari; Vighiamal; Vishio; Vishnoi; Visro; Wisnoi; बिश्नोई (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 793,000 |
Population all Countries | 795,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 3 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 16 |
People ID | 16464 |
ROP3 Code | 111628 |
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 | 10 | ||||||||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 10 |
Rajasthan 413,000 | |
Uttar Pradesh 157,000 | |
Odisha 118,000 | |
Haryana 83,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 4,600 | |
Delhi 1,600 | |
Punjab 1,300 | |
Himachal Pradesh 600 | |
Gujarat 400 | |
Chandigarh 90 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.02 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.98 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Hindi (298,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 13 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (298,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 13 |
Secondary Languages | |
Marwari 198,000 | |
Odia 98,000 | |
Bagri 30,000 | |
Dhundari 16,000 | |
Haryanvi 8,400 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 7,600 | |
Mewari 2,300 | |
Shekhawati 1,900 | |
Bengali 1,000 | |
Gujarati 900 | |
Wagdi 300 | |
Kangri 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) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
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. |