People group profile · PG041337
The Halwai of India
The Halwai of India, numbering about 1,920,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an occupational caste found across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, whose name derives from halwa, the sweet they traditionally make and sell. The Halwai were historically employed by Muslim rulers and feudal courts.
They are an indigenous people in the Bihari people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Maithili.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 1,920,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Bihari
- Primary language
- Maithili (mai)
- 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
- Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Where they live
Gospel status
The Halwai 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 Halwai
- 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
100% adherents
Primary language
Maithili · Indo-European family
50% speak Maithili
Gospel resources in Maithili
- Bible available, published 2010
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
Bibles
- Wycliffe Bible Tranlsators, Inc. · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Halwai
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Halwai in other countries
The same people is also reported in 1 other country.
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