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