Sindhi in United States

Map Source:  People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.
People Name: Sindhi
Country: United States
10/40 Window: No
Population: 51,000
World Population: 181,400
Primary Language: Sindhi
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Christian Adherents: 1.00 %
Evangelicals: 0.08 %
Scripture: Complete Bible
Online Audio NT: Yes
Jesus Film: Yes
Audio Recordings: Yes
People Cluster: South Asia - other
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

All Sindhi were originally from the southeastern province of Pakistan, Sindh. Many Hindu and Sikh Sindhi left Pakistan for India after the 1947 Partition. Some of these Hindu Sindhi have migrated to the USA. Besides Pakistan and India eight other countries have Sindhi populations.

Some Sindhi in the USA have retained their language of Sindhi at home while speaking English on the job or at school. Some speak English at home and as their first language now.

A complete Bible and the JESUS Film are available in the Sindhi language.

Only a tiny fraction of American Sindhi claims to be followers of Jesus Christ.

What Are Their Lives Like?

In Pakistan and India most Sindhi work in agriculture and animal husbandry. In the USA, American Sindhi work a variety of jobs. Some work in the professions in medicine, science, finance, and education. Some work as teachers, managers, in retail and in administration. Social division exists on the basis of occupation and income.

Most parents and grandparents want their children to retain their Sindhi heritage, and language. Many Sindhi young people are indistinguishable from other young Americans. In Pakistan, Sindhi parents often choose the spouse of their son or daughter. In the USA, young people choose their own mates. These partners are frequently not from the Sindhi culture.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Upon arriving in the USA, many Sindhi become secular and Hindu in name only. American Sindhi celebrate both Hindu and American holidays. Almost all Sindhi in the USA claim that they are Hindus. They pay their primary devotion to Shiva, the destroyer god and to the Mother Goddess Durga. Hinduism is the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.

Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn, and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday. American Sindhi celebrate both Hindu and American holidays.

What Are Their Needs?

Many Sindhi in the USA may enjoy economic prosperity. However, they must come to understand their need for their sins to be forgiven. Only the Lord Jesus can do that.

Prayer Points

Pray that each individual of the Sindhi community will increasingly realize his or her opportunity to know forgiveness of sin and a new life found in Jesus Christ.

Pray that believers in the USA will reach out and build relationships with their Sindhi neighbors.

Pray that American Sindhi would develop a spiritual hunger that would lead them to read the Bible.

Pray the Lord raises up a disciple making movement among the American Sindhi in this decade.

Text Source:   Joshua Project