Bisati in Pakistan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

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.


What Are Their Needs?

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.


Prayer Points

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.


References

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
Urdu
400
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sindhi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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.