People group profile · PG042137
The Padhar of India
The Padhar of India, numbering about 38,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Scheduled Tribe of Gujarat believed to have migrated from Sindh, once boatmen who now depend chiefly on agricultural labor. Trapping and fishing supplement farming.
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 Gujarati.

Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 38,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- South Asian Tribal
- Primary language
- Gujarati (guj)
- Primary religion
- Folk Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Gujarat: both shores of Gulf of Khambhat; Maharashtra: Nandubar and Nashil districts; Rajasthan: Jalor and Sirohi districts; Daman and Diu Union Territory
Where they live
Gospel status
The Padhar are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Padhar
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Folk Hinduism · Hinduism
97% adherents
Primary language
Gujarati · Indo-European family
100% speak Gujarati
Gospel resources in Gujarati
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1997 Bible League International · text
- Gujarati New India Bible · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Padhar
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- 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.
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