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People group profile · PG006182

The Bote-Majhi of Nepal

The Bote-Majhi of Nepal, numbering about 12,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a small, marginalized riverine people indigenous to the river valleys of central and eastern Nepal, historically defined by boating and fishing but facing economic transition due to environmental regulation, infrastructure (bridges), and modernization.

They are an indigenous people in the Other South Asian people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Bote-Majhi.

Pray for the Bote-MajhiPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Bote-Majhi people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Bote-Majhi

Fast facts

Country
Nepal
Population
12,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Other South Asian
Primary language
Bote-Majhi (bmj)
Primary religion
Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index ?
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia
Location
Narayani River banks and tributaries; Narayani zone, Chitwan, Parsa districts; Lumbini zone, Nawalparasi, Palpa, Gulmi districts; Gandaki zone, Tanahun, Gorkha, Kaski, Gulmi, Syangja districts

Where they live

Gospel status

The Bote-Majhi are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Bote-Majhi

  • Continue prayer and fasting for this group
  • Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
  • Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Primary religion

Hinduism

90% adherents

Primary language

Bote-Majhi · Indo-European family

71% speak Bote-Majhi

Gospel resources in Bote-Majhi

  • Bible available, published 2023
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Bote-Majhi

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  2. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  3. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  4. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.

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