The word Dhavad is from the original Marathi word Dhatu which means mineral. This small group of people lives in Western Ghats in Maharashtra, where the soil is rich in iron ore. That has given them the chance to extract iron from the earth and mold it into tools for daily use. Traditionally the Dhavad were mostly located on the mountains of Western Ghats, mostly around Satara, as the soil is red and rich in iron ore. Some traveled to the coastal region in search of other livelihoods. The primary language of the Dhavad is Marathi.
Today many Dhavad live below poverty line as the iron deposits of the Western Ghats Mountains have been exhausted. With the iron trade gone, now they are working in various small businesses for earning their living.
The Dhavad people are Sunni Muslims. They believe that the One Supreme God, Allah who spoke through his prophet, Mohammed. He taught mankind how to live a righteous life through the Koran and the Hadith. To live a righteous life, you must utter the Shahada (a statement of faith), pray five times a day facing Mecca, fast from sunup to sundown during the month of Ramadan, give alms to the poor, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca if you have the means. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcohol, eating pork, gambling, stealing, slandering, and making idols. They gather for corporate prayer on Friday afternoons at a mosque, their place of worship. The two main holidays for Sunni Muslims are Eid al Fitr, the breaking of the monthly fast and Eid al Adha, the celebration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to Allah.
As Dhavad iron trade has died, they need new job skills. The Dhavad need to understand that Jesus or Isa is much more than a human prophet. He is the Son of God and the Savior of the world.
Ask the Lord to lead many Dhavad to investigate the claims of Jesus Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement that will bless the Dhavad people this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Dhavad people to share with the good news.
Scripture Prayers for the Dhavad in India.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
People Name General | Dhavad |
People Name in Country | Dhavad |
Alternate Names | धवाद |
Population this Country | 2,100 |
Population all Countries | 2,100 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19739 |
ROP3 Code | 111956 |
Country | India | ||
Region | Asia, South | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||
Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | ||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 1 |
Maharashtra 2,000 | |
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 India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Marathi (2,100 speakers) |
Language Code | mar Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Marathi (2,100 speakers) |
Language Code | mar Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Marathi |
Primary Language: Marathi
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1807-1957) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1811-1982) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1821-2022) |
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. |