People group profile · PG046043
The Chamar (Marwadi) of India
The Chamar (Marwadi) of India, numbering about 361,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a significant community of northern India, traditionally associated with leather work and tanning. Over time, many Chamars have moved away from their traditional occupation and are now part of the broader agricultural and urban labor force.
They are an indigenous people in the Chamar people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak Marwari (India).
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 361,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Chamar
- Primary language
- Marwari (India) (rwr)
- Primary religion
- Ethnoreligion
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Rajasthan: Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, and Pali districts; Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh states; thoughout India
Where they live
Gospel status
The Chamar (Marwadi) 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 Chamar (Marwadi)
- 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
Primary language
Marwari (India) · Indo-European family
100% speak Marwari (India)
Gospel resources in Marwari (India)
- Bible available, published 2023
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Chamar (Marwadi)
- 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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