Mewati (Muslim traditions) in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Subgroups: 6

Subgroup Name Population
Dimrot 30,000
Chirklot 26,000
Landawat 16,000
Bargujar 700
Derwal 700
Dulot 700

Introduction / History

Mewati, also known as "Meo" people are of the Rajput caste. They are Muslims but their former religion was Hinduism. It is believed they turned to Islam in the 1600s and more became Muslims at about the beginning of the 1900s.


Where Are they Located?

They live in the Mewat district of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

For a long time Mewati have been livestock farmers, raising cattle. They are well known in India. Some have trucking businesses. Others work for the government, army, or police, electricians, plumbers, money lenders, or laborers. Those who live in Haryana do basket work.

They value education.

They see medical doctors as well as traditional ones. They are now beginning to use family planning.

They eat wheat, rice, maize, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products. They accept cooked foods only from high castes and to those linked to high castes.

Property is inherited only by the sons and the oldest son is head of the home after the death of the father. While they marry within the group, spouses are selected from other clans or villages. They are not allowed to take a bride from the village of their mother. Marriage is allowed with the widow of the elder brother and with the younger sister of a dead wife. A single spouse is normal, although additional spouses are permitted in cases of infertility. A gift is given for a dowry. Parents arrange marriages and engagement takes place at an early age. The marriage is at the home of the bride and is performed by a Muslim priest. Divorce is allowed and divorcees are allowed to re-marry.

Mewati have traditional clan assemblies who judge and make decisions. Punishments are given by fines or excommunications.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Mewati are considered a Muslim people, although they have had a mixed history of Islam and Hinduism. Attempts to return Mewati people to Hinduism again have failed.

They go on pilgrimages to Muslim shrines and take part in Muslim festivals. They visit and do homage at the tombs of their dead saints. They pray for their wishes to come about by the intercession of these saints. Under the leading of the Tablighi Movement (an Islamic reform movement), they stopped taking part in Hindu festivals and have become devout Muslims. They perform circumcision and bury the dead in their own cemeteries.


What Are Their Needs?

The most important need of Mewati people is to understand that their good works and worship of false gods will never pay the penalty for their sins, and that Almighty Creator God has made the provision for them.

Bible resources, written, audio, and visual exist in Urdu, the language spoken by Mewati people, however they are very resistant to exposure to them within their strict Muslim traditions, consequently they remain unreached with the gospel.


Prayer Points

Pray that Mewati people will see that their old systems of ethics and religio are not working, and that their only hope is in Jesus Christ.
Pray that intercessors worldwide will regularly pray for salvation of Mewati people.
Pray for servants to reach them with the gospel.
Pray that many Mewati people who are reached will disciple others until this people group knows that Jesus Christ is Lord.


Scripture Prayers for the Mewati (Muslim traditions) in India.


References

www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/meo/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/mewati
www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/mewati/


Profile Source:   Karen Hightower  

People Name General Mewati (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Mewati (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation mee-VAH-tee
Alternate Names Koli Samaj; Me; Meds; Meena; Menam Mayo; Mes; Meta; Mew; Mewati; Mina; Mineain; Wadha Koli; मीयो (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 932,000
Population all Countries 1,947,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 19
People ID 17620
ROP3 Code 113054
ROP25 Code 305406
ROP25 Name Meo / Mewati
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 10
Largest States
Rajasthan
710,000
Madhya Pradesh
128,000
Uttar Pradesh
49,000
Haryana
42,000
Uttarakhand
1,100
Punjab
700
Maharashtra
300
Gujarat
200
Chandigarh
70
Himachal Pradesh
30
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 10
  Rajasthan 710,000
  Madhya Pradesh 128,000
  Uttar Pradesh 49,000
  Haryana 42,000
  Uttarakhand 1,100
  Punjab 700
  Maharashtra 300
  Gujarat 200
  Chandigarh 70
  Himachal Pradesh 30
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (322,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 14
Secondary Languages
Urdu
170,000
Mewari
54,000
Marwari (India)
12,000
Wagdi
10,000
Dhundari
6,700
Malvi
2,600
Haroti: Harauti
1,300
Haryanvi
600
Punjabi, Eastern
300
Shekhawati
200
Bundeli
200
Kacchi
200
Garhwali
100
Primary Language Hindi (322,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 14
Secondary Languages
  Urdu 170,000
  Mewari 54,000
  Marwari (India) 12,000
  Wagdi 10,000
  Dhundari 6,700
  Malvi 2,600
  Haroti: Harauti 1,300
  Haryanvi 600
  Punjabi, Eastern 300
  Shekhawati 200
  Bundeli 200
  Kacchi 200
  Garhwali 100
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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
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
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Karen Hightower 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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