Dholi (Muslim traditions) in Bangladesh
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Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project
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| People Name: | Dholi (Muslim traditions) |
| Country: | Bangladesh |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 62,000 |
| World Population: | 68,900 |
| Primary Language: | Sylheti |
| Primary Religion: | Islam |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | New Testament |
| Online Audio NT: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Muslim - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The name of the Dholi people comes from the word dhol, meaning a type of drum. This is not surprising since they have always been drummers and musicians. The role of the dholi is to create rhythm and set the tempo for singing and dancing during festivals, weddings and religious events. Bengali Muslims view the dholi as a group that helps them maintain their traditions and culture.
Dholi Muslims, live in India. Specifically, they live in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and India's northeastern states. The majority of the Muslim Dholi live in Bangladesh.
What Are Their Lives Like?
They play drums during weddings and other festive occasions.
Most of them are now farmers. They still manage to make sure their sons and sometimes their daughters go to school at an earlier age. Their children usually work by the time they are 15, so education is limited.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Like other South Asian Muslims, the Dholis have kept some aspects of Hinduism in their form of Sunni Islam. In general terms, when Hindus of this region converted to Islam during the days of the Moghul Empire, they retained some Hindu beliefs that conflict with orthodox Islam.
What Are Their Needs?
The Dholi people, be they Hindu or Muslim, whether they live in India or Bangladesh, need to open their hearts to the blessings promised by the Lord of all.
Prayer Points
Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Dholi communities.
Pray for the lives and culture of the Muslim Dholi people to evidence the rule and reign of the Kingdom of God as they open to the gospel.
Pray for a movement of Dholi households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for the hearts of Dholi family leaders to experience God's blessing through a movement of family-based discovery Bible studies.