People group profile · PG041310
The Dhimar of India
The Dhimar of India, numbering about 1,770,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a fishing caste of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra whose name derives from dhiwarasya, meaning fisherman, historically dependent on pond fishing rights reassigned after independence, now also engaged in agriculture.
They are an indigenous people in the Hindi people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Hindi.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 1,770,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Hindi
- Primary language
- Hindi (hin)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Chhattisgarh region; also Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar
Where they live
Gospel status
The Dhimar 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 but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Dhimar
- 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
Gospel resources in Hindi
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Hindi)
- Magdalena (Hindi)
- The Savior (Hindi)
Bibles
- Easy-to-Read Version · audio, text
- Indian Revised Version (OT - Davar Audio) · audio
- New Hindi Version · video
- New Hindi Version - LUMO Christmas Film · video
- New Hindi Version - LUMO Easter Film · video
- Sab Ki · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Dhimar
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.