The Faqir (or Fakir) of India are beggars by tradition. They are Sunni Muslim by religion. Fakir comes from the Arabic word meaning poverty. Some of them live in Muslim cemeteries. The mourning period for a death is forty days and then food is given to the poor. The birth pollution period is for forty days too.
In Uttar Pradesh, most of the Faqir are landowners and work in cultivation. Poultry work is a second occupation for them. Only a few do begging at Islamic shrines now but they have been discriminated against. They speak Urdu and a local dialect of Hindi. Most of them are living in multi caste villages where there are many religions. Every sub division has a caste council that judges local problems and matters. They are endogamous, which means they do not marry outside their group and also have a caste association that covers India.
In Gujarat, the Faqir are endogamous and marriages usually happen in their community. Parallel cousin marriages and cross cousin marriages are favored. They traditionally beg and some work at Sufi shrines. Most now work as laborers. They are a marginalized people group. Though Sunni Muslims, they have folk beliefs.
In Maharashtra, the Faqir speak Urdu and Marathi. They live in the regions of Amravati and Nagpur. They are endogamous and do parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. They do begging but there is a slow change towards work such as selling baskets, crockery and also craft items. Most are laborers, particularly in Nagpur. They have been given the Other Backward Classes position which means they have a part in education and work. They are marginalized though.
In West Bengal, the Faqir are also called Sahajia and were beggars. They are supposed to be called by that name as they were followers of Sher Ali Sahaji who is classed as a Sufi saint. They are an endogamous caste. Most who work in cultivation live in the regions of Nadia, Howrah, Bankura, Birbhum, Purulia, Murshidabad and Malda. They cultivate jute and mustard seeds for example and produce cooking oil. A few are agricultural laborers but with no land. They speak Bengali and are Sunni Muslims. They have folk beliefs too.
The Faqir speak Urdu, Hindu and Bengali. They have a low literacy level so the gospel will probably have to be presented in oral form.
Pray that the Faqir though beggars by tradition will realize that Jesus Christ does not look down on them and that they will give their lives to Him.
Scripture Prayers for the Faqir in India.
www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/fakir
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/faqir_(clan)
Profile Source: Anonymous |
People Name General | Faqir |
People Name in Country | Faqir |
Alternate Names | Bava; Bhenrihar; Darvesh; Fakir; Faqirani; Fhakir Budbudki; Gareri; Ghanta Fhakirlu; Ghanti Fhakir; Pir; Sai; Sain; Sayee; Shah; Turaka Budbudiki; फ़क़ीर |
Population this Country | 106,000 |
Population all Countries | 132,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 2 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 16762 |
ROP3 Code | 112012 |
ROP25 Code | 302404 |
ROP25 Name | Faqir |
Affinity Bloc | South Asian Peoples |
People Cluster | South Asia Muslim - other |
People Group | Faqir |
Ethnic Code | CNN25 |
Total Subgroups | 28 (only 15 largest shown) |
Bairagi 13,000 | |
Benawa 5,600 | |
Chishti 5,500 | |
Qalandar 4,800 | |
Dervesh 4,100 | |
Azad 3,300 | |
Gosain 3,000 | |
Udasi 2,600 | |
Jalais 2,100 | |
Sanyasi 2,100 |
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 | 21 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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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 | 21 (only 20 largest shown) |
Uttar Pradesh 33,000 | |
Haryana 13,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 9,700 | |
Delhi 8,800 | |
Punjab 8,400 | |
Rajasthan 8,200 | |
Bihar 6,200 | |
West Bengal 3,900 | |
Gujarat 3,100 | |
Jharkhand 2,800 | |
Maharashtra 2,300 | |
Himachal Pradesh 2,100 | |
Uttarakhand 1,900 | |
Chandigarh 1,700 | |
Odisha 400 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
33.32 %
|
Islam |
60.31 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
6.37 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Urdu (42,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 18 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
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Primary Language | Urdu (42,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 18 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Hindi 32,000 | |
Punjabi, Eastern 9,100 | |
Bengali 2,700 | |
Bhojpuri 2,200 | |
Gujarati 1,100 | |
Marwari 900 | |
Awadhi 400 | |
Haryanvi 300 | |
Kanauji 200 | |
Mewari 100 | |
Maithili 100 | |
Bilaspuri 70 | |
Kashmiri 70 | |
Bagri 40 | |
Dhundari 20 | |
People Groups | Speaking Urdu |
Primary Language: Urdu
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1747-1894) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1758-2000) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1843-2022) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | 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 data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |