People group profile · PG041971
The Bakkarwal of India
The Bakkarwal of India, numbering about 48,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a pastoral nomadic Sunni Muslim community of Jammu and Kashmir whose name derives from bakriwale, meaning goat herders. They are of Gujjar stock, speak Gujjari, and migrate seasonally between altitudes with their sheep and goats.
They are an indigenous people in the South Asian Tribal people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Gujari.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 48,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- South Asian Tribal
- Primary language
- Gujari (gju)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- 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
- Himachal Pradesh: Chamba and Lahul Spiti districts in Kashmir valley; Jammu and Kashmir: Anantag, Badgam, Bandipore, eastern Baramula and Kupwara, Doda, Ganderbal, Kargil, Kishtwar, Kulgam, west Leh, Ramban, and Shupian districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bakkarwal 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Bakkarwal
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
100% adherents
Primary language
Gujari · Indo-European family
100% speak Gujari
Gospel resources in Gujari
- Bible available, published 2022
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Gojri)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bakkarwal
- 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.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
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