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People group profile · PG042128

The Pangwala of India

The Pangwala of India, numbering about 24,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a tribal community residing in the Pangi valley of Himachal Pradesh.

They are an indigenous people in the South Asian Tribal people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Pangwali.

Pray for the PangwalaPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Pangwala people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Pangwala

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
24,500
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
South Asian Tribal
Primary language
Pangwali (pgg)
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
Himachal Pradesh: Chamba district, Pangi sub-district; Lahaul Spiti district, Udaipur on Chenab river to Chamba border at Purthi, possibly from Tandi to Sach Pass; Jammu and Kashmir: Doda district

Where they live

Gospel status

The Pangwala 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 Pangwala

  • 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

95% adherents

Primary language

Pangwali · Indo-European family

100% speak Pangwali

Gospel resources in Pangwali

  • Bible available, published 2023
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Pangwala

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

Download a prayer guide

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