The Darzis derived their name from the Persian word 'to sew' or darzan. Sometimes the Darzi are known by the name Darji or Khayyat in India where most of their community live. An Indian legend says that the god Parasurama was pursuing two brothers to destroy them, and they found haven in a temple. A priest hid them and gave one brother the task of sewing dresses and the other dyeing cloth. The Darzi are said to be the descendants of the first brother and therefore, Darzis are most commonly tailors. There are more than 3.5 million Darzis in all and about one third of those are Muslims, the rest are Hindus.
The Muslims among them live in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
They occupy a middle ground in terms of social status. As tailors they enjoy close relations with other Muslim tradesmen. The Darzis are not vegetarian but tend to avoid beef. As a community they prefer adult marriages and offer children's inheritance privileges to both sons and daughters. Men will sometimes wear a kurtapyjama and woman a salwar-kameez.
The Darzi claim to be descendants of the Muslim prophet Idris. This prophet corresponds to Enoch of the Old Testament. Like other Muslim peoples in South Asia, the Darzi mix Sunni Muslim practices with Hindu ones.
Because of the Darzi's openness to business and upward social status, this is a great opportunity to offer outside assistance to educational or other development projects.
Pray that the church can love the Darzi people like God does, enough to offer micro loans and other development programs to help them improve their lives.
Pray that God will release a spiritual yearning in the hearts of the Darzi people that only Christ can fill.
Pray that their spirits will be opened to receive the words of life that can lift them into the heights of the Kingdom of God through faith in Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Darzi (Muslim traditions) in Nepal.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Darzi (Muslim traditions) |
People Name in Country | Darzi (Muslim traditions) |
Pronunciation |
DAR-zee
|
Alternate Names | Chopan; Darji; Darzi; Idrasi; Idrissi; Khayyat; Merais; Nangdev; Pipavasi; Sai Sutar; Sais; Ses; Setch; Shimpi; Simpi; Sise; Sochi; Suis; Thalavadi; दर्ज़ी (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 23,000 |
Population all Countries | 1,680,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 17513 |
ROP3 Code | 112930 |
ROP25 Code | 301962 |
ROP25 Name | Darji / Darzi |
Country | Nepal | ||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||||||||||||
Total States on file | 11 | ||||||||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Total States | 11 |
Lumbini 6,000 | |
Narayani 5,900 | |
Bheri 4,100 | |
Janakpur 2,900 | |
Kosi 1,500 | |
Sagarmatha 1,100 | |
Rapti 500 | |
Mechi 500 | |
Bagmati 400 | |
Gandaki 300 | |
Seti 70 | |
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 Nepal census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Urdu (11,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 5 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Urdu (11,000 speakers) |
Language Code | urd Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 5 |
Secondary Languages | |
Bhojpuri 4,800 | |
Maithili 2,900 | |
Nepali 400 | |
Awadhi 400 | |
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 |
(Representative photo) Copyrighted © 2024 Isudas 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. |