Qalandar in Pakistan

The Qalandar have only been reported 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 Qalandar community can be described as a clan. They are descended from people who were devotees of the Sufi saint Bu Ali Qalandar. Some moved east into what is now Uttar Pradesh, India, while others slowly moved west. By the mid 1600s many were settled in Punjab, a region straddling India and Pakistan. The Qalandar people in Pakistan are sometimes nomadic. They have made their living for generations by traveling town-to-town exhibiting the dancing bears they have captured and trained in the forests.


Where Are they Located?

"Punjab" means "where five waters meet." An international boundary separates Pakistan from India dividing the Punjab politically and causing disputes which often prohibit free movement. This is a problem for the Qalandar people because they make their living on both sides of the border.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In as many as three villages a day they entertain with trained bears, monkeys, goats, and dogs. Most Qalandar people also develop other entertainment skills, such as juggling, acrobatics, and magic. The children and women often work as professional beggars. They are a very poor community that needs to find better ways to make a living.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Qalandar profess whatever belief best serves their momentary purposes. However, they use charms as protection from evil spirits. It is difficult to present the gospel to them because they travel constantly, using vicious dogs to patrol the camp perimeters. Strangers are not welcome in their camps.


What Are Their Needs?

Missionaries might meet the Qalandar's basic human needs through job training or schooling while sharing the gospel with them.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to raise up persons of peace among the Qalandar people to open the door to Christ's ambassadors.
Pray for the Lord to raise up His people to teach them marketable skills.
Pray for a disciple-making movement among the Qalandar people of Pakistan and India.
Pray for believers to take on a prayer assignment to pray for the Qalandar people until they have a strong body of believers.


Scripture Prayers for the Qalandar in Pakistan.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qalandar_(clan)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qalandar
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/19486/PK


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Qalandar
People Name in Country Qalandar
Alternate Names क़लांदर
Population this Country 700
Population all Countries 700
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19486
ROP3 Code 115620
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 600
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Pakistan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Urdu (400 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Sindhi
200
Primary Language Urdu (400 speakers)
Language Code urd   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Sindhi 200
People Groups Speaking Urdu

Primary Language:  Urdu

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1747-1894)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1758-2000)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1843-2022)
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 Story of Jesus audio 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 Urdu 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 Story of Jesus for Children 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 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 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
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.