People group profile · PG041354
The Rathi of India
The Rathi of India, numbering about 31,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Scheduled Tribe of Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, whose name recalls the Sanskrit word for state, some tracing descent from the Rathor Rajput. Agriculture and sheep-rearing remain primary occupations.
They are an indigenous people in the South Asian Tribal people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Garhwali.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 31,500
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- South Asian Tribal
- Primary language
- Garhwali (gbm)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC ?
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Himachal Pradesh: Chamba district, Brahmaur sub-district; Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh states; Delhi
Where they live
Gospel status
The Rathi are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Rathi
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
98% adherents
Primary language
Garhwali · Indo-European family
100% speak Garhwali
Gospel resources in Garhwali
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Garhwali)
Bibles
- 2018 Edition · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Rathi
- 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.
- 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.
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