Introduction / History

As late as the 19th century there were reports of highway robbery by the Zargar people, and they had a bad reputation for armed robbery. They probably "migrated" by force to their current homelands in Pakistan and India when three brothers with giftings in goldsmith skills.

Where Are they Located?

The Zargar people, be they Muslim or Sikh, live in Jammu & Kashmir.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Though they once had many clans, the Zargar people have since been simplified as a people. Like other peoples, they do not marry between religious communities, so there is no inter-marriage between Muslim and Sikh Zargars.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Though most are Hindus or Muslim, there are some Sikhs among the Zargar people. Sikhism originated from a 15th century teacher named Guru Nanak Dev as a reform movement. He rejected the Hindu caste system, taught that all people were equal and that all have equal access to God. The Sikh God is formless, without gender and is to be found in everyone. One gets closer to God by living a good life and by practicing charity. Like Hindus, Sikhs believe in reincarnation and the law of karma; you reap what you sow in your previous life. Like Muslims, the Sikhs worship only one God.

One may recognize a Sikh man by his distinctive turban. All the 10 great Sikh gurus wore turbans. Sikh teaching mandates that a person not cut his or her hair. They worship their holy book, the Granth Sahib, which is a collection of hymns.

There are roughly the same number of Sikhs as there are Jews in the world, but Sikhs are most concentrated in Punjab, their homeland. However, you will find smaller numbers of Sikhs all over the world. Many of the best Indian restaurants in the West are owned and operated by Sikhs.

What Are Their Needs?

The Zargar peoples, be they Hindu, Muslim or Sikh, need to submit to Jesus Christ, and accept His ways so they can enjoy abundant life and forgiveness of sin.

Prayer Points

Pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done among the Zargar people.
Pray for a movement of Zargar households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Zargar 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 Zargar people.

Scripture Prayers for the Zargar (Sikh traditions) in India.