Bhisti in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The term Bhisti is derived from the Persian word bihisht, meaning paradise, and they were so named on account of the services they rendered to thirsty soldiers. They claim their ancestry from Hazrat Abbas Alamdar, who went to fetch water from a pond in a skin-bag to quench the thirst of the followers of Imam Husain on their way to Damascus. A Bhisti saved the life of an emperor during the Moghul Empire, earning them the respect of some.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Bhistis do not have good status in today's India. Their water is used for drinking, for cooling systems and for watering graves.

Today their livelihood is endangered because there are better ways for people to get water. There are water taps in many urban areas. People use these, but so do the Bhistis, who fill their leather pouches with it. Bhistis do not earn much money for their difficult job which includes fetching the water, tying the entrance for the leather container and taking it to customers. They hold the heavy leather pouch at their sides as they walk through busy marketplaces.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Bihishti belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. They venerate their village deity, Khera Dev and fear Evil spirits.


What Are Their Needs?

The Bhisti may well have an inadequate understanding of who Jesus (whom Muslims call Isa al-Masih) truly is. Pray the Lord will open their eyes.


Prayer Points

Pray the Bhisti community will increasingly thirst for living water.
Pray for the Bhisti people's economic well-being as they struggle to make a living in a world that has changed dramatically since their caste began.
Pray for their spiritual condition, as they are often filled with the fear of evil spirits.
Pray for a movement to Jesus to multiply among Bhisti families and communities.
Pray the Lord will begin to call out believers.
Pray they will be adequately instructed in the faith and will grow to maturity in Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhisti in India.


References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT1hXSxWntE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4X75EDYYA
https://vikalpsangam.org/article/a-bhisti-ruled-an-empire-once/


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bhisti
People Name in Country Bhisti
Pronunciation PEESH-tee
Alternate Names Abasi; Abbasi; Bihisti; Chambhar; Mashki; Maski; Mochi; Pakhali; Pakhia; Parkhali; Sakka; Saqqa; Sekh Abbasi; Shaikh Abbasi; Shaikh Saqqa; Sheikh Abbasi; भिस्ती
Population this Country 617,000
Population all Countries 690,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 12
PeopleID3 16418
ROP3 Code 111569
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
540,000
Rajasthan
43,000
Uttarakhand
16,000
Madhya Pradesh
10,000
Gujarat
2,900
Maharashtra
2,800
Bihar
500
Delhi
500
Karnataka
400
Himachal Pradesh
400
Chhattisgarh
200
Manipur
50
Odisha
40
Dadra and Nagar Have
30
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 14
  Uttar Pradesh 540,000
  Rajasthan 43,000
  Uttarakhand 16,000
  Madhya Pradesh 10,000
  Gujarat 2,900
  Maharashtra 2,800
  Bihar 500
  Delhi 500
  Karnataka 400
  Himachal Pradesh 400
  Chhattisgarh 200
  Manipur 50
  Odisha 40
  Dadra and Nagar Have 30
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
100.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (345,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Urdu
183,000
Braj Bhasha
2,700
Marwari (India)
2,600
Wagdi
2,300
Gujarati
1,800
Kanauji
1,400
Garhwali
1,300
Mewari
800
Dhundari
800
Bhojpuri
600
Bundeli
300
Awadhi
300
Punjabi, Eastern
100
Bengali
100
Shekhawati
70
Primary Language Hindi (345,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Urdu 183,000
  Braj Bhasha 2,700
  Marwari (India) 2,600
  Wagdi 2,300
  Gujarati 1,800
  Kanauji 1,400
  Garhwali 1,300
  Mewari 800
  Dhundari 800
  Bhojpuri 600
  Bundeli 300
  Awadhi 300
  Punjabi, Eastern 100
  Bengali 100
  Shekhawati 70
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Forum Bible Agencies
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
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Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
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Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
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General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links (Hindi) Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
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Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Hindi Bible (हिंदी बाइबिल) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hindi Word General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Sab Ki Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible app: पवित्र बाइबिल Hindi Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Hindi Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta (Bible training) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Hindi (Bible training) General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: JM Hindi General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Open Bible Stories (Hindi) Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
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Mobile App Download audio Bible app from Google Play Store Faith Comes by Hearing
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Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hindi Unlocked Literal Bible Kalaam Media Ltd
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Christ for the Nations General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Hindi Bible General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Hindi Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Steve Evans - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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