The Mahatam call themselves Rai Sikh. They speak Punjabi and read and write in Gurmukhi.
Many of the Mahatam work in agriculture. They are non-vegetarian and eat wheat, maize and rice as cereals. Some are in government service. Only boys get educated among them. They use modern medicine.
The Mahatam people are endogamous, meaning they prefer to marry within their group. They allow for divorce on certain grounds such as adultery and not being able to have children. They allow remarriage but not for older widows. On the death of the father, sons inherit the property with the oldest son taking charge of the family estate.
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.
Like all other peoples of the world, this people group needs the blessings and guidance that only Jesus Christ can offer.
Pray that Indian Christians will lead the Mahatam into a disciple making movement.
Pray that gospel materials and the internet will provide them what they need to begin home groups.
Pray for dreams and visions to draw their elders to the throne of grace.
Scripture Prayers for the Mazhabi (Sikh traditions) in India.
Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
