Varli in Pakistan


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

Introduction / History

The Hindu Varli are a tribal people who live in primarily west India but also south Pakistan. The word Varli means, "a field or piece of land."

The Varli are known for their painting of murals, mostly on the walls of their earthen huts. Dark red ochre serves as the background for the murals. They use white paint exclusively, made from rice paste and gum. The paintings depict male and female gods, elements of nature and village life. Patterns are often repeated which give the paintings a geometric appearance. Murals painted on canvas now serve as a source of income for the Varli. Only 50% of the Varli population can read.


Where Are they Located?

Varli people live mostly in the Nashik region and the Thane region of south Pakistan. Others live in Pakistan.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Varli people of Pakistan work in agriculture, often on land owned by others. Rice, millet, wheat, vegetables, and fruit are their principal crops and food. As Hindus, they will not eat beef.

The Varli of Pakistan speak Sindhi. Some Varli also speak Hindi and Urdu. These languages allow the Varli to communicate and do business with outsiders.

Most Varli lives today in villages without electricity, indoor plumbing and access to clean water. As a result, the death of Varli children before the age of five is a too common occurrence.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Varli people in Pakistan are officially Hindu. They frequently mix folk religion with their Hinduism. Varli utilize their own priests and shamans, not Brahmans, as do most Hindu communities. The Varli worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Varli visit their shrines and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Varli people are Holi, the festival of colors; Diwali, the festival of lights; Navratri, the celebration of autumn; and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Varli need to hear the life-changing message about Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need help in educating their children and in gaining new job skills. They would greatly benefit by access to clean water and electricity. Workers need to reach out to the Varli people with oral Bible resources and the JESUS Film due to their high rate of illiteracy.


Prayer Points

Pray the day will come when Pakistan's Varli people celebrate Jesus Christ with enthusiasm and disciple others in His ways.
Pray that spiritual barriers will be broken, and that the Varli will allow the Holy Spirit to rule and reign in their lives.
Pray that workers will make long-lasting, intentional contact with Varli people that will result in many disciples who reach their own people.


Scripture Prayers for the Varli in Pakistan.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warli
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18299/IN


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Varli
People Name in Country Varli
Alternate Names Warli; वरली
Population this Country 6,300
Population all Countries 1,482,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18299
ROP3 Code 113844
ROP25 Code 308567
ROP25 Name Varli
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
  Sindh 6,300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
4.96 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
95.04 %
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 Sindhi (5,200 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Dhatki
1,000
Primary Language Sindhi (5,200 speakers)
Language Code snd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Dhatki 1,000
People Groups Speaking Sindhi

Primary Language:  Sindhi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1825-1981)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1890-1992)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1954)
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 Recorded oral Bible Oral Bibles
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Sindhi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video 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 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 Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Sindhi YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Sindhi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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