Lohar (Hindu traditions) 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 Lohar are a people whose traditional occupation was forging and making iron tools. There are Hindu, Muslim and Sikh Lohar who live in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. In former times, the Lohar would travel from village to village selling and repairing iron tools. With the coming of modern factories that make inexpensive steel implements, the economic level of the Lohar people has declined. They have had to seek other kinds of employment. The Lohar speak the language of where they live. The main language of the Lohar in Pakistan is Sindhi. Many Lohar men also speak Urdu which allows them to communicate with most peoples in north India and Pakistan. A complete Bible and the JESUS Film are available in Sindhi. The Lohar are an oral culture so the good news about Jesus Christ must be presented to them in visual and oral form.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Lohar live in poverty. Their fortunes have declined as steel manufactured tools became available. They have gone into other jobs like agriculture, construction and factory work. More Lohar men are able to read and write than women. Children often quit school early to help their parents earn a living. The nomadic lifestyle also makes education difficult for Lohar children to attend school. Other people sometimes see the Lohar as thieves due to their traveling from place to place. The Lohar are seen as low class, those outside the Hindu caste system. As a result the Lohar face daily discrimination. Families arrange marriages. Lohar marry within their group and religion but not from their own clan. Sons inherit the property of their fathers. Marriage to one spouse is the norm. The Lohar eat meat except for beef and pork. Most of their diet consists of vegetables and rice due to their impoverished economic level.


Although they work hard, they live in extreme poverty.
What Are Their Beliefs?

The vast majority of the Lohar in Pakistan are Muslims. A much smaller population is Hindu. Hindu Lohar pay special reverence to Rama, the god of moral virtue and Kali, the goddess of death and time. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Lohar visit Hindu shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hope of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians do with their heavenly Father. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs. The main yearly holidays of the Lohar people are Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. The Lohar in Pakistan also celebrate Muslim holidays.


What Are Their Needs?

The Lohar need new job skills to improve their economic level. The Lohar need to be able to send their children to school. Rural Lohar need access to modern medicine, electricity, and clean water. Most of all the Hindu Lohar must understand that Jesus is much more than another Hindu god or guru. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to the Hindu Pakistani Lohar and tell them the good news about Jesus. Pray that Lohar parents are able to provide adequately for their children and send them to school. Pray that visual and audio Christian resources would become available and are able to reach the Pakistani Lohar. Ask the Lord to raise up a Disciple Making Movement among the Lohar of Pakistan in this decade.


Scripture Prayers for the Lohar (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan.


References

https://peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/lohar/   


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Lohar (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Lohar (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation LOW-har
Alternate Names Ahangar; Barhi; Battarha; Dodai; Dodo; Kamar; Kammara; Khar; Lohandia; Lohar; Loharia; Lohura; Lonar; Luhar; Luhara; Luharani; Mistri; Mistry; Nar; Ojali; Ojula; Ozulu; Panchal; Raj; Raj Mistri; Ramgarhia; Sandhan; Sejwani; Shilpakar; Shilpkar; Silpkar; Sree Panchal; Sri Panchal; Thawai; Vishwakama; Vishwakarma; Viswabrahma; Viswakarma; Vojali; लोहार (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 24,000
Population all Countries 11,677,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17379
ROP3 Code 112774
ROP25 Code 304767
ROP25 Name Lohar
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 on file 3
Largest States
Sindh
23,000
Balochistan
200
Punjab
200
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 3
  Sindh 23,000
  Balochistan 200
  Punjab 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
100.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
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 (17,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Dhatki
5,400
Marwari
900
Saraiki
700
Kacchi
500
Punjabi, Western
300
Primary Language Sindhi (17,000 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Dhatki 5,400
  Marwari 900
  Saraiki 700
  Kacchi 500
  Punjabi, Western 300
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)
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
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 or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or 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
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Anonymous  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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