Dhodia 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 Dhodia are located in the extreme southeastern districts of Gujarat, a state in northwestern India, though a smaller number of them live further west over the Pakistani border. The Dhodia are the highest-ranking tribe and the third largest tribal group in Gujarat. They speak Dhodia, a Bhil language. The Dhodia are related to the many Bhil tribes. The name "Bhil" comes from the word billee, which literally means "bow." The bow is the characteristic weapon of most Bhil tribes. Ironically, the Dhodia, unlike their Bhil relatives, do not use bows and arrows. The Dhodia consider themselves to be of a higher class than the neighboring Bhil groups. They will not marry other Bhil or even eat with them. Some exceptions are allowed, however, with the Chodhari Bhil. Long ago, prosperity within Gujarat State attracted people from all the surrounding states. Gujarat became a target of the Maratha tribes, who made annual raids to the region for several years. Eventually, the Muslims fortified the area east of Surat in order to reap its economic benefits. War continued between the Moghals, the Maratha, and the Portuguese over the Gujarat territory. By 1817, the British had risen to power. In the years that followed, they attempted to mend what the Maratha had left by dispersing farmland among the settlers. In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi demanded the British to withdraw from India. The Dhodia, a non-aggressive people, retreated deeper into the hills during the conflict.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They have more than one wife when they can afford it. The wives are "bought" while they are still girls. In times past, it was customary to take the bride to the groom's house for the wedding. Today, however, the young couple generally travel to the bride's house to be married. A widow usually remains a part of her husband's family by marrying her deceased husband's brother. The Dhodia participate in festivals alongside the Hindus who live nearby. They are not really community-minded, but only come together for such things as annual communal fishing and religious feasts. Village leaders only perform certain social duties. Most Dhodia have given up the nomadic lifestyles of their ancestors and have settled into farming. Forest labor, trade labor (in the cities), hunting, and fishing are secondary to agriculture. Some live in the Surat district, an area well known for its rich soils and fine cotton crop. Others live in areas where, because of the heavy rainfall, they are able to cultivate rice. Still others live in the less fertile, highland areas. The Dhodia go to the markets to trade their crops for clothing. The women wear blouses under dark green or red cotton saris (long pieces of cloth that are wrapped around the waist and over one shoulder). They also wear necklaces made of lead beads and rupee coins, and silver anklets. Most of the men wear either a "Gandhi" cap or a turban wrapped out of a piece of cloth. Shorts have also become popular among the men. Dhodia houses are usually scattered near the streams so that they might easily fish and draw water for themselves and their cattle. The homes are typically built by hired labor. They are small bamboo huts made with tiled roofs. The poorer Dhodia live in mud huts that they build themselves. The doors always face north in order to prevent interaction with evil spirits.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The great majority of the Dhodia Bhil practice ethnic religions. They have deep-rooted beliefs in demons and witches. They worship groups of deities made of shapeless pieces of stone or wood. The Dhodia have no temples or places to hold their religious ceremonies. They have only a few stones that have been painted and placed under trees. They believe that the supernatural beings dwell there.


What Are Their Needs?

Many Dhodia are addicted to alcohol and will sell all they possess for a drink. They need to experience the liberating power of Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will break up the soil through worship and intercession. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth faithful laborers to live among the Dhodia and teach them of God's love leading to a church planting movement. Ask God to grant wisdom and favor to mission agencies focusing on the Dhodia. Ask God to give the Dhodia believers boldness to share the Gospel with their own people.


Scripture Prayers for the Dhodia in Pakistan.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhodia


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dhodia
People Name in Country Dhodia
Pronunciation DOH-dee-ah
Alternate Names Dhobi; Dhodi; Dhori; Dhoria; Doria; धोड़िया
Population this Country 11,000
Population all Countries 818,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16710
ROP3 Code 111945
ROP25 Code 302073
ROP25 Name Dhodia
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 11,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.64 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
49.33 %
Islam
50.03 %
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 (9,100 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
Dhatki
1,500
Kacchi
200
Primary Language Sindhi (9,100 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 3
Secondary Languages
  Dhatki 1,500
  Kacchi 200
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)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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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
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General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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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
Photo Source Kajal84 - Wikimedia  Creative Commons 
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.



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