Day 15. Jat in India (JAHT)
18,264,000
Hindi
Hinduism
Similar to the Muslim Jats of Pakistan, the Hindu Jat people of India have a history as brave and ready fighters. They are independent in character and value respect and offering heavy resistance against any foreign force who treats them unjustly. Historically, they have been farmers and nomadic herdsmen. They are thought to be the original inhabitants of the Punjab area, though at the time they did not have a formal religious identity, instead taking on the religion of the local rulers. The Hindu Jats adhere to the traditional Hindu practices, as well as a wide variety of additional beliefs and practices.
The Jat peoples in India are majority Hindu, but the Jat people living in the Punjab area also have large numbers which are Muslim (Pakistan) and Sikh (India). They are hardworking people who possess both the desire and ability to rule. Many of India’s finest sportsmen have been Jats (leading to the saying, “Jats do it!”). Also large numbers of Jats serve in India’s vast armed forces. In the last few decades there have been demands by Jats in some of India’s northern states to be classified as OBC (Other Backward Castes) so they can claim government benefits.
Prayers for the families of the Jat:
Lord of the harvest, send Your workers who will live out Jesus’ teachings in the Jat communities. Bring a strong movement of Jat communities to Jesus that spans the three religions the Jat follow.
Lord, bless Your Holy Scriptures (in Hindi) to be shared in the Jat homes and along the road in their daily lives. Lord, raise up spiritual Jat warriors who fight with the sword of Truth and serve with the heart of Jesus.
Lord, give visions and miracles that break the powers of evil so that whole communities can know the riches of healing, forgiveness, compassion and depending on You for their needs.
God’s Holy Prayer, given to the Jat: I give You thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing Your praise; I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness, for You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word. (Ps. 138:1-2)