Jhinwar (Sikh traditions) in India

Introduction / History

The Jhinwar people are live in India and Pakistan. At the Partition of 1947 most of the Hindu Jhinwar moved to India and the Muslim ones located to Pakistan. There also a sizable Sikh community among the Jhinwar. Most Sikh Jhinwar live in the northern state of India of Punjab. Smaller groups of Sikh Jhinwar live throughout India. The traditional occupation of the Jhinwar has been related to water, in fishing, boating and as water carriers. Others work in agriculture as farmers, day laborers or in grinding grain. The Sikh Jhinwar generally are better educated than their Muslim and Hindu counterparts. A tiny fraction among the Jhinwar call themselves believers. The two main languages of the Sikh Jhinwar are Western Punjabi and Hindi. Complete Bibles and many resources are available in both languages. College educated Sikhs also speak English.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Some Jhinwar work in business as traders in fish and mutton. Many urban Jhinwar work in factories and in construction. Educated Jhinwar work in professions such as teaching, accounting, engineering and as government administrators. Many of the Jhinwar are now day laborers in agriculture. Some Jhinwar serve in the Indian Armed Forces. Some Sikh Jhinwar are vegetarians and some are not. They marry as adults. One marriage to one spouse is their normal pattern. Divorce and remarriage are not favorably accepted by them. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. Sons inherit property upon their father's death. The Sikh Jhinwar marry within their group.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Sikhism originated from a 15th century teacher named Guru Nanak Dev. He rejected the Hindu caste system, taught 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. A Sikh is not permitted to use alcohol, tobacco or any illegal drugs. One may recognize a Sikh man by his distinctive turban. All the 10 great Sikh gurus wore turbans. Sikh teaching also mandates that a person not cut his or her hair.

What Are Their Needs?

The Sikh Jhinwar would benefit by new job skills and better education for their children. Most of all the Jhinwar must hear and understand the life-changing message about Jesus Christ. He alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.

Prayer Points

Pray that God's Holy Spirit will open new doors in hearts to positive changes among Jhinwar people. Pray for the Jhinwar people to have a Holy Spirit driven hunger for spiritual truth that will drive them to Jesus Christ and the Bible. Pray for the Lord to thrust out new workers who will lovingly stick with these people until they have a church planting movement. Pray for a disciple making movement to sweep through all Sikh Jhinwar communities in this decade.

Text Source:   Keith Carey