Kunbi (Hindu traditions) in Pakistan

Introduction / History

The Kunbi (alternate names of Reddi and Desai) are a community of Gujarat and Maharashtra, but a smaller number live further west in Pakistan. Traditionally the Kunbi belonged to the fourth of the Hindu Varnas, Sudra. Alternate name include Kapu, Akutota, Desai, Dommari, Guruda, Illela, Kuruva, Musugu, Nadi Taram, Panta, Sajjana, Renati, etc.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Kunbi communities are non-vegetarian, and all the communities take rice as their staple cereal. Jowar, wheat, bajra and ragi are the other cereals they eat.

The Kunbi community has social divisions such as clans, lineage, subcastes and sects. These social divisions regulate marital alliances.

The Kunbi people allow cross-cousin marriages. They don t allow for widow remarriage. Being a dominant community, the Reddy have been primarily landlords and landholders. Social control is regulated through traditional caste and village councils. The traditional occupation of most of the Reddy groups is settled farming, followed by animal husbandry and paid labor.

Both men and women smoke a homemade cheroot (chutta) which results in a high incidence of mouth and throat cancer. The Kunbi people play bhajans and kirtans.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Hindus who worship many deities. Their main festivals are Ugadi, Akshade and Dussehra.

Prayer Points

Pray for the salvation of the Kunbi people in Pakistan and that God may send several Christian workers to work among them and meet their spiritual needs through the gospel.
Pray for the Kunbi Christians to reach out to their own people.
Pray that their men and women may give up smoking.
Pray for Kunbi disciples to make more disciples.

Text Source:   Joshua Project