Kahar (Sikh traditions) in India
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Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
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| People Name: | Kahar (Sikh traditions) |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 87,000 |
| World Population: | 87,000 |
| Primary Language: | Punjabi, Eastern |
| Primary Religion: | Other / Small |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Complete Bible |
| Ministry Resources: | Yes |
| Jesus Film: | Yes |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Sikh - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
What Indian caste is not really a caste at all? They are the Kahari people, who are part of an ancient community in northern India. They can be Hindu, Muslim or Sikh.
What Are Their Lives Like?
The people group was traditionally associated with water. They cultivated farms with a liberal amount of water, dug wells, grew water nuts, captured waterfowls and were notable boatmen and fisherman.
With the last century's modernization, these water-related roles have dwindled. Their occupations have become more diversified, inspiring 15 sub-castes to break off from them. Considered "backward," they became parcel carriers, house servants, and stone-cutters. In village settings, they are now landless agricultural laborers. In the city where many have emigrated, they are wage laborers.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Kaharis are divided into Hindu, Muslim and Sikhs communities. The Sikhs among them converted from Hinduism long ago. 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?
Pray for Kahari people will respond to gospel materials.
Pray for them to have the spiritual hunger it takes to embrace Christ no matter what the cost.
Pray for Kahari disciples to make more disciples.
Pray that one day soon the Kaharis will lead other castes to drink the Living Water.