Bansphor (Muslim 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 Musilm Bansphors or Basors are converts from Hinduism. The time and circumstances of their conversion is unclear. The large majority of Bansphors continue in the Hindu faith. The word Bansphor means "bamboo splitter" in Hindi. Most of the Muslim Bansphors live in India, though some are in Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The majority of the Muslim Bansphors in Pakistan continue in their traditional job of making bamboo furniture and household items. Some also work as landless agricultural laborers. Some young educated Bansphors have moved to cities and work in government and business careers. Most Bansphors still live in villages. The Bansphors fall within the Sudra caste, The Sudra are the lowest of the four main castes of Hinduism. The Bansphors sell their bamboo items at town markets and shops. The Muslim Bansphors marry within their group. They often marry cousins. Families arrange the marriages. They tend to practice adult marriage rather than child marriage. Monogamy or marriage to one spouse in the general rule while polygamy or a husband having more than one wife is accepted. The Bansphor sons inherit property from their parents. They live in extended families near or with the husband's parents.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Muslim Bansphors are Sunnis Muslims, the largest group within Islam. Along with Islam, they engage in folk religious practices like appeasing evil spirits. As Sunnis the Bansphor celebrate Muslim holidays such as Eid Al-Fitr, the end of the fast of Ramadan, and Eid Al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bansphors need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They would benefit by having more vocational choices than making bamboo items and working as farm laborers. As a poorer group in Pakistani society, they need access to modern medicine and education.


Prayer Points

Pray that other Muslim background Indian followers of Christ would reach out to the Bansphors and help them begin their own church planting movement. Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive these Muslims to seek and find Jesus Christ. Pray for Bansphor elders to understand the value of Jesus Christ and open the doors for others in their community to follow Him.


Scripture Prayers for the Bansphor (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Bansphor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bansphor
www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/basor/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bansphor (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Bansphor (Muslim traditions)
Alternate Names बंसफोर (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 300
Population all Countries 800
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17483
ROP3 Code 112895
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 200
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 (300 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Sindhi (300 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Sindhi
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.