Bhand (Muslim traditions) in India

People Name:	Bhand (Muslim traditions)
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	39,000
World Population:	52,100
Primary Language:	Hindi
Primary Religion:	Islam
Christian Adherents:	0.00 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Muslim - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Bhand or Bhanr people get their name from the term in Sanskrit for jester which is bhanda. They are an occupational lower caste people who have been singers, dancers, actors, and jesters since the days of feudal kingdoms in India.

The Bhands are Sunni Muslim and speak Maithili as well as Nepali and Urdu. They live in many areas of north and central India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Today the Bhands are still known for their singing, dancing and storytelling. The Damaleh Bhand in India are especially known for their folk dance, folk music and playing of the drum and flute. Most Bhand, however, can be found to have left their traditional occupation and moved into small business selling of household goods or toys. Being of a lower caste has forced some into rickshaw pulling and begging for subsistence. Literacy is very low and many children are not able to attend school though the boys often attend some Islamic instruction.

What Are Their Beliefs?

These Sunni Muslims 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?

Because of their prominent traditional position in the community in performing, the Bhand community ought to be more open to outside communication and likely the gospel. Few have ever approached the Muslim Bhand with the gospel and consequently there are no known believers.

Prayer Points

Pray for loving workers to go to the Bhand people, and for their hearts to be ready to receive their savior.

Pray for families of believers loving and serving others to grow reproducing churches.

Pray for a chain reaction of families reaching families that result in thousands of new disciples who share their faith with others.

Pray for grace and truth expanding into their entire society as all believers learn to love others.