The Bisati believe they originally came from Pakistan and migrated to north India during the Mughal period. They are peddlers or sellers of merchandise. Their name means to sell goods spread out on a carpet or mat not in a shop. They sell all types of merchandise such as stationery, bangles, glassware, cotton cloth, needles, pins, knives, and other small hardware. Some Bisati have prospered and own large retail stores. Others sell their goods at open markets and village squares. The main language of the Bisati is Urdu, a key trade language in Pakistan. Though a small number of them live in Pakistan, the bulk of their population is in Bihar, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, India.
The lives of the Bisati revolve around their Sunni Muslim faith and the selling of goods to others. They are considered a lower to middle class Muslim community. The Bisati are endogamous, that is, they strongly prefer to marry within their caste or clan. Cousin marriages are common. Unfortunately, child marriage of girls is still prevalent. Boys receive the equivalent of a high school education while girls receive only a primary education. Sons inherit the father's property with the eldest son taking responsibility for the family home, his mother and younger siblings. Muslim priests officiate at important family events such as births, wedding and funerals. The Bisati are not vegetarian. As followers of Islam, they do not eat pork. Their main foods are rice, wheat, millet, lentils, dairy products, and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
The Bisati are Sunni Muslims. They strive to follow the teaching of the Koran and the prophet Mohammad. They attempt to obey the five Pillars of Islam in order to achieve salvation. If they have the means they try to make a Hadj or pilgrimage to Mecca one time in their lives. They participate in the yearly monthly fast of Ramadan and the holiday of breaking the fast called Eid al Fitr. Their other main holy day is Eid al Adha, the feast of the sacrifice, which commemorates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son.
The Bisati need to hear the life-changing message about Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see the love and mercy of Christ lived out in a practical way before them by Christ followers. They must realize that Jesus or Isa is much more than a human prophet as Islam asserts.
Pray for Christian laborers to have wisdom in applying the pattern Jesus gave in Matthew 10 and Luke 10, leading to blessing among Bisati households. Pray the Lord will start a movement of Bisati families experiencing God's rich blessings. Pray the Lord opens the hearts of the Bisati elders so they might receive the forgiveness of sins that only Jesus offers.
Scripture Prayers for the Bisati in Pakistan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisati
revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Bisati
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Bisati |
People Name in Country | Bisati |
Alternate Names | Feriwala; Manihar; Pathera; Tikulihara; बिसाती |
Population this Country | 900 |
Population all Countries | 10,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 16466 |
ROP3 Code | 111631 |
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) |
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 | 1 |
Sindh 800 | |
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 | Sindhi (500 speakers) | |||
Language Code | snd Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Sindhi (500 speakers) |
Language Code | snd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Urdu 400 | |
People Groups | Speaking Sindhi |
Primary Language: Sindhi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1825-1981) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1890-1992) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1954) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
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. |