People group profile · PG041832
The Kalbelia of India
The Kalbelia of India, numbering about 132,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Scheduled Caste snake-charming community of Rajasthan, also known as Sapera, tracing descent from a disciple of Guru Gorakhnath. Still largely nomadic, the Kalbelia earn a living from snake-catching, palmistry, music, and alms-seeking.
They are an indigenous people in the Hindi people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Mewari.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 132,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Hindi
- Primary language
- Mewari (mtr)
- Primary religion
- Folk 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
- Delhi; also Rajasthan: Ajmer, Jaipur, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Udaipur, and Pali districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Kalbelia 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 Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Kalbelia
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Mewari · Indo-European family
100% speak Mewari
Gospel resources in Mewari
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Mewari)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Kalbelia
- 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.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.