Mochi (Hindu traditions) in India


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

Introduction / History

The Mochi caste is considered by some to be a branch of the Chamar caste, but the Mochi have repudiated that, considering themselves to be a separate caste of higher status than the Chamar. Chamar people process the hides, while the Mochi make leather products out of this raw product. In the past, some of the Mochi were involved with removing carrion and selling the bones and hides. The Mochi are subdivided into subgroups and clans, and there is a social ranking system between the subgroups.

The Mochi people live primarily in India and Bangladesh, but there are smaller communities in Nepal and Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Along with making leather products, the Mochi make bricks and baskets. At a certain time of year, everyone in Mochi families make bricks. Only the men make baskets, however. They have regular contact with other communities through economic activities like selling their baskets and working as laborers on other peoples' farms.

The Mochi people have some bad health habits like eating pork, smoking, chewing betel leaf, and in the men's case, drinking alcohol.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Mochi people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like 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.


What Are Their Needs?

These people need to realize that they cannot please God without being empowered by the Holy Spirit. They cannot have the Holy Spirit without Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that Hindi language gospel materials like the JESUS Film will become readily available for the Mochi people.

Pray that they will come in contact with people who love Jesus and want to share His ways with them.


Scripture Prayers for the Mochi (Hindu traditions) in India.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-10-28
Global Prayer Digest: 2014-09-21
People Name General Mochi (Hindu traditions)
People Name in Country Mochi (Hindu traditions)
Pronunciation MOH-chee
Alternate Names Ahirwar; Arya Kshatriya; Arya Kshatriya Chumas; Aryakshatriya; Charaikar; Chitrakar; Chitrakathi; Dalera; Das; Dohar; Jatav; Jatia; Jingar; Kattai; Mangan; Mochavaru; Mochi; Muchhia; Muchhir; Muchi; Muchia; Muchivaru; Noria; Papachulolu; Rabidas; Rachevar; Raighar; Ramdasi; Ramnami; Raudari; Ravida; Ravidas; Regar; Rehgar; Rishi; Ruidas; Sajgar; Satnami; Sochi; Sonani; Suryavanshi; मोची (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 2,328,000
Population all Countries 2,587,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 47
People ID 17639
ROP3 Code 113075
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 30
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
West Bengal
1,322,000
Gujarat
172,000
Maharashtra
170,000
Uttar Pradesh
168,000
Haryana
112,000
Assam
92,000
Madhya Pradesh
50,000
Jharkhand
48,000
Rajasthan
29,000
Karnataka
29,000
Telangana
19,000
Chhattisgarh
10,000
Punjab
10,000
Chandigarh
9,300
Uttarakhand
8,100
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 30  (only 20 largest shown)
  West Bengal 1,322,000
  Gujarat 172,000
  Maharashtra 170,000
  Uttar Pradesh 168,000
  Haryana 112,000
  Assam 92,000
  Madhya Pradesh 50,000
  Jharkhand 48,000
  Rajasthan 29,000
  Karnataka 29,000
  Telangana 19,000
  Chhattisgarh 10,000
  Punjab 10,000
  Chandigarh 9,300
  Uttarakhand 8,100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.26 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.21 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
99.53 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Bengali (1,029,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 46
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
425,000
Gujarati
149,000
Marathi
85,000
Assamese
49,000
Awadhi
44,000
Konkani
23,000
Kanauji
23,000
Kannada
21,000
Telugu
21,000
Punjabi, Eastern
16,000
Haryanvi
15,000
Marwari
6,600
Odia
5,900
Shekhawati
5,600
Chhattisgarhi
5,200
Primary Language Bengali (1,029,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 46
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 425,000
  Gujarati 149,000
  Marathi 85,000
  Assamese 49,000
  Awadhi 44,000
  Konkani 23,000
  Kanauji 23,000
  Kannada 21,000
  Telugu 21,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 16,000
  Haryanvi 15,000
  Marwari 6,600
  Odia 5,900
  Shekhawati 5,600
  Chhattisgarhi 5,200
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
Bible-NT Audio 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 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 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 Bengali 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 Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
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, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Walk with the Prophets and meet the Messiah Al Massira
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
Photo Source Anonymous 
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.