People group profile · PG041406
The Varli of India
The Varli of India, numbering about 1,450,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Scheduled Tribe of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, their name recalling uplanders, known for pictographic wall paintings. Agriculture remains their primary occupation, and many practice Christianity.
They are an indigenous people in the Marathi-Konkani people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Varli.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 1,450,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Marathi-Konkani
- Primary language
- Varli (vav)
- Primary religion
- Folk Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Maharashtra: Nasik and Dhule districts; Thane district, Dahanu and Talasari sub-districts; Gujarat: Valsad district, Dharampur sub-district, Dadra and Nagar Haveli; far north Thane district and south Gujarat state (Davari)
Where they live
Gospel status
The Varli 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 Varli
- 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
Folk Hinduism · Hinduism
98% adherents
Primary language
Varli · Indo-European family
100% speak Varli
Gospel resources in Varli
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Varli)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Varli
- 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.
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