Dhobi (Muslim traditions) in Nepal


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Dhobi are a large collective community of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. They derive their name from the Sanskrit term dahv which means 'wash '. The Dhobi are traditionally the clothes washers. They are a schedule caste in many of the states of India, where most of the Dhobi live. A majority of the Muslim Dhobi live in Pakistan, but a small number are in Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Dhobi are trying to maintain their traditional occupation of washing clothes and running laundry services. In north India and Nepal some Muslim Dhobi are involved in government service jobs and agricultural labor. In Nepal most of the Dhobi are considered a depressed caste, but 'touchable '. The Muslim Dhobi of Nepal mainly speak Nepali and Urdu are more numerous in Saptari district.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Sunni Muslim Dhobi people believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke through his prophet, Mohammed, and taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship.
The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.


What Are Their Needs?

Though some small success has come in ministry to the Hindu Dhobi, the Muslim Dhobi have no known work among them in Nepal. In general, the attitude of the Dhobi to education is quite good and literacy in some locations is higher than other Muslim communities. May the Lord use education to bringing many Muslim Dhobi to faith.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Muslim Dhobi culture to be renewed and enhanced by a work of the Holy Spirit and shaped into a God-centered and God-honoring mold.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among their family and community leaders to seek his face and enjoy his blessings.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers to Nepal who will be compelled to nurture a Disciple Making Movement among the Dhobi people.
Pray that soon the Muslim Dhobi people will have faith that will lead them to live honorable lives that will draw others to the savior.


Scripture Prayers for the Dhobi (Muslim traditions) in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dhobi (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Dhobi (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation DOH-bee
Alternate Names Agasa; Agasaru; Agheria; Awari; Bana; Baretha; Batham; Bhai; Chakala; Chakali; Chandbar; Charhoya; Chauhan-Bhatti; Chawla; Chhimba; Darhi; Dharhiadu; Dharhiannan; Dharhiannari; Dhob; Dhoba; Dhobi; Dhopa; Dhopi; Dhupi; Hawari; Jada; Khurdanai; Madiwal; Madiyal; Madvali; Madwai; Modiyal; Monson; Pak; Parit; Prasad Dhobi; Qasab; Raipal; Rajak; Rajaka; Rajpar; Rajukula; Ram Dhobi; Ramdu; Sakala; SakalaDarhi; Shaheri; Sukladas; Tanwar; Togata; Tsakala; Turaka Chakali; Turka Chakla; Turka Sakala; Vannan; Warathi; Watts; धोबी (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 8,200
Population all Countries 2,482,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 17519
ROP3 Code 112937
ROP25 Code 302072
ROP25 Name Dhobi
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 9
Largest States
Lumbini
2,500
Bheri
1,800
Narayani
1,300
Kosi
900
Sagarmatha
700
Janakpur
500
Rapti
200
Bagmati
200
Gandaki
100
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 9
  Lumbini 2,500
  Bheri 1,800
  Narayani 1,300
  Kosi 900
  Sagarmatha 700
  Janakpur 500
  Rapti 200
  Bagmati 200
  Gandaki 100
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 (4,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Bhojpuri
1,900
Maithili
1,100
Awadhi
100
Nepali
80
Primary Language Urdu (4,000 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Bhojpuri 1,900
  Maithili 1,100
  Awadhi 100
  Nepali 80
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Urdu Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children 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 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
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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 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 Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Oxlaey - Flickr  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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