Saini have their origins with royal Rajput families of old. They were given land for their service to the ruler. The pattern for Rajput communities like the Saini is that they were notable miliary officers. Upon retirement settled in rural estates. Their land was farmed by lower castes. Most Hindu Saini left Pakistan and moved to India during the Partition of India in 1947.
The primary language of the Pakistani Saini is Saraiki. They also speak Urdu, the national language of Pakistan. Educated Saini speak English. Bible audio recordings, Bible portions and the JESUS Film are available in Saraiki.
They are Hindu and Sikh by religion. There are few in any Saini believers in Pakistan.
The Saini people live in India and Pakistan. A much smaller population of Muslims lives in India and Pakistan.
The Saini are more educated than the typical Pakistani people. They continue to own land. Many are business owners and work in government jobs. Some Saini are scientists, professors, engineers, and administrators.
Saini people enjoy a high literacy level, the product of their own education organizations. They use modern and local medicine and family planning. Parents encourage their children to attend universities and obtain graduate degrees.
The Saini marry only in their group. They often marry within clans and between villages. Adult marriages with one spouse are the usual custom. An additional spouse is allowed if the wife cannot have children. Divorce does not happen often but is allowed. Divorcees and the bereaved are allowed to remarry.
Property is inherited through the male lineage only, and all sons inherit equally. The oldest son becomes the head of the home upon his father's death. He also must take care of his elderly parents.
Saini women, in addition to housework, work outside the home. Women who are educated work for government and private businesses. They also take part in religious and social matters.
Saini have their own assemblies that see to the needs of their people. Community organizations settle family and land problems and cases involving divorce and adultery.
The Saini people of Pakistan 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 as Christians do. 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.
The Saini need humility to see their need for Jesus Christ. Their high place in society can often be a hindrance in coming to their savior. Jesus alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.
Ask the Lord to send workers to the Pakistani Saini.
Pray the Spirit softens the hearts of the Saini so that they will be open to the good news.
Pray the Lord raises up a disciple making movement among the Hindu Pakistani Saini in this decade.
Scripture Prayers for the Saini (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan.
www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/saini/
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/issue/day/2020/10/31
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Saini (Hindu traditions) |
People Name in Country | Saini (Hindu traditions) |
Pronunciation | say-NEE |
Alternate Names | Bogar; Deswali; Mali; Phulmali; Sain; Sainsar; Sani; Sanin; Saniyar; Sayani; Shurasaini; Shursaini; सैनी (हिंदू ट्रेडिशन्स) |
Population this Country | 2,700 |
Population all Countries | 845,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 17998 |
ROP3 Code | 113490 |
ROP25 Code | 307128 |
ROP25 Name | Saini |
Country | Pakistan | ||
Region | Asia, South | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 1 |
Punjab 2,700 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
100.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Pakistan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Saraiki (2,100 speakers) | |||
Language Code | skr Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 3 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Saraiki (2,100 speakers) |
Language Code | skr Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 3 |
Secondary Languages | |
Marwari 400 | |
Punjabi, Western 200 | |
People Groups | Speaking Saraiki |
Primary Language: Saraiki
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio | Jesus Film Project |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Saraiki | 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 | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Miniafia Oyan: Saraiki | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Saraiki | YouVersion Bibles |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Saraiki | Literacy & Evangelism International |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
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. |