Patwa (Muslim traditions) in India

Introduction / History

The community name, Patwa, is associated with the making of woven cloth. They were jewelry makers and weavers who often added gold or silver threads to their work.

Where Are they Located?

Muslim Patwa people live in Bangladesh and Pakistan as well as India. Within India they live in the northern states of Jammu, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Patwa people, be they Hindu or Muslim, are involved with making jewelry, cosmetics and decorations, though some have moved into other businesses. They only marry within their own caste.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Muslim Patwa people are Sunni, the largest branch of Islam. They believe that the One, Supreme God, Allah, spoken through his prophet, Mohammed, and 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.

In most of the Muslim world, peoples like the Patwa depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. The often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

The Patwa people, be they Hindu or Muslim, need to put their faith in Jesus Christ, the only one who can bless them with abundant life and eternal salvation from sin and death.

Prayer Points

Pray for his kingdom to come and his will to be done among the Muslim Patwa people.
Pray for a movement of Patwa households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Patwa people to the arms of Jesus.
Pray for workers who are filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit to go to the Patwa people.

Text Source:   Keith Carey