Dhobi (Muslim traditions) in India

Dhobi (Muslim traditions) in India

pronounced: DOH-bee

The Dhobi are a large collective community of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. They derive their name from the Sanskrit term dahv which means 'wash'. The Dhobi are traditionally the clothes washers. They are a Scheduled caste in many of the states of India, where the majority of the Dhobi live. Today the Dhobi have maintained their traditional occupation of washing clothes and running laundry services. In north India and Nepal some Muslim Dhobi are involved in government service jobs and agricultural labor.

Ministry Obstacles

There are no known followers of Christ with a Muslim background for the Dhobis. That means that the Muslim Dhobis cannot see someone from their own community live out a victorious spiritual life.

Outreach Ideas

All Dhobi communities are in danger of losing their livelihood to modern ways of cleaning clothes. Perhaps believers can help them be proactive by teaching them business skills that they can use in starting laundromats and other small businesses.

Scripture Focus

Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 10:28

Scripture Prayer

Pray for believers in today’s people group to be courageous in their witness for Christ and fear God, not men.

Prayer Focus

Pray that when there are followers of Christ among the Hindu Dhobis that they will allow the light of the Holy Spirit to shine in them in such a way that others will be drawn to the Savior. * Pray for the Lord to bless the Muslim Dhobis spiritually and economically. * Pray for the Muslim Dhobi people to have a strong spiritual hunger that will lead them to Jesus. * Pray for Muslim background believers to disciple Dhobis who will in turn disciple others in the ways of Jesus Christ.