Kalwar (Muslim traditions) in India

Introduction / History

The Kalwar or Kalal (in India) are said to derive their name from the Sanskrit word for 'distiller of alcohol' or kalyapala. This community is known as the Muslim distillers and sellers of liquor. Based on this tradition the Kalwar have a relatively low social status. Several million Kalwar are Hindus in India but only a small portion are Muslims. In Nepal there is also a small community of Muslims.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Though traditionally distillers and liquor sellers, the Kalwar are involved today in a variety of trading and selling as well as in labor and some in agriculture. Their position in society in India is one of a more depressed or unclean caste but they are 'touchable '. They speak Nepali, Bhojpuri and Urdu and tend to be favorable to formal education.

What Are Their Beliefs?

They are Sunni Muslim and follow traditional rites of birth, marriage and death. Married women wear the nose-stud (nakchhabi). They have traditional shared food with other Muslims but not with Hindu groups.
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?

Some success in sharing Christ has borne fruit among the Hindu Kalwar but no known work has even begun among the Muslim community. Pray that workers might be found and that other believing Kalwar could bridge the gap into the Muslim community.

Prayer Points

Pray that some from the Kahar would hear and come to embrace the name of Jesus.
Pray for dedicated and loving workers.
Pray for them to fully understand and cherish their faith and share it with others.

Text Source:   Joshua Project