Purig-Pa in India

People Name:	Purig-Pa
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	44,000
World Population:	44,800
Primary Language:	Purig
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.09 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Tribal - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Purig-Pa people are a relatively small people group that reside in the Himalayan hills in Kashmir, India. They are known to have originated from the descendants of Tibetans and Dards during the 10th century.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Purig-Pa are primarily farmers and shepherds. They primarily speak Purgi language. They are known to have a relatively high literary rate for a secluded tribe.

What Are Their Beliefs?

These people are Sunni Muslims who believe that the supreme God, Allah, spoke 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. Sunni religious practices are staid and simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, people 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. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What Are Their Needs?

The Purig-Pa people need a John 10:10 blessing: The abundant life Jesus offers those who are willing to submit to his lordship. The Purig-Pa people need more opportunities to be exposed to the holy Word.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Purig-Pa culture to be renewed and enhanced by a work of the Holy Spirit and shaped into a God-centered and God-honoring mold.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among their family and community leaders to seek his face and enjoy his blessings.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out workers who will be compelled to nurture a disciple making movement among the Purig-Pa people.
Pray that soon the Purig-Pa people will have faith that will lead them to live honorable lives that will draw others to the savior.
Pray that the high literacy rate among the people may lead them to the Word and begin to know Christ as the only way to salvation.