Introduction / History

The Tamboli or Tambuli (also Barai) derive their name from the Sanskrit term for 'betel leaves' (tambula). Tambul or betel leaf packing has commonly been the primary source of income for thousands of Tamboli as they bundle and sell the betelnut and betel leaf product. The Tamboli live in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Tamboli can still be found in India in the tradition business of cultivating the piper betel plant or the areca nut or packaging the leaves in 200 leaf packs for sale and distribution, though not all remain in this profession. Scores of Tamboli, because of a higher or 'clean' community status, can be found in small business trading and as hardware shop owners. About 90% of Tamboli are Hindus but the other 10% are Muslims and trace this heritage back to conversion from Hinduism.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The people are Sunni Muslims who 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?

Little to no ministry work has ever been done among the Tamboli and despite this large population there are no known Christians among them.

Prayer Points

Pray that the betel leaf and areca nut industry could be penetrated with the gospel so that many Tamboli whether Muslims or Hindus could know the God who created them.
Ask God to raise up Tamboli who are more desirous to know the truth than to stay on the broad road to death.
Ask God to send loving, committed workers to the Tamboli soon.
Pray the Tamboli would no longer be hidden away from the influence of Christ.

Scripture Prayers for the Tamboli (Muslim traditions) in Bangladesh.