Introduction / History

The Khatri are a people group who live across north and central India. A small population resides in Pakistan. Though most are Hindu, there are a sizable number of Sikhs among them, especially in Punjab. The two main languages of the Khatri are Hindi and Western Punjabi. They also speak the local languages where they live. There are few, if any known believers among them. There are a complete Bible, JESUS Film, Christian radio broadcasts, and the God's Story video in both Western Punjabi and Hindi.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Khatri are a trading and business caste that originated in Punjab. They are one of the most progressive and advanced communities in India. They usually marry within their own community. Families arrange marriages. Sons inherit property upon the death of their father. Parents encourages their sons and daughters to get a university education. A caste council settles legal disputes and enforces social norms.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Some of the Khatri people practice Sikhism. This religion originated from a 15th century teacher named Guru Nanak Dev as a reform movement to Hinduism. He rejected the Hindu caste system, taught that all people were equal and that all have equal access to God. The Sikh God is formless, without gender and is to be found in everyone. One gets closer to God by living a good life and by practicing charity. Like Hindus, Sikhs believe in reincarnation and the law of karma; you reap what you sow in your previous life. Like Muslims, the Sikhs worship only one God. One may recognize a Sikh man by his distinctive turban. All the 10 great Sikh gurus wore turbans. Sikh teaching mandates that a person not cut his or her hair. They worship their holy book, the Granth Sahib, which is a collection of hymns. Perhaps believers can learn these hymns and see if they might be a bridge to worshipping the Lord of lords.

What Are Their Needs?

The Sikh Khatri community needs to put all their trust in Jesus Christ not in the teachings of their Gurus. They will need to see the love of Christ shown to them in practical ways.

Prayer Points

Pray for a spiritual hunger that will give the Sikh Khatri people a willingness to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement among Sikh Khatri people this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Khatri people and tell them the good news.

Scripture Prayers for the Khatri (Sikh traditions) in India.