People group profile · PG046330
The Yadava (Bundeli) of India
The Yadava (Bundeli) of India, numbering about 257,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a large, historically pastoral community of India and Nepal whose shared identity is rooted in mythological descent from King Yadu and association with Krishna, and whose modern form emerged through social consolidation in the 19th–20th centuries.
They are an indigenous people in the Yadav people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Bundeli.

Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 257,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Yadav
- Primary language
- Bundeli (bns)
- 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
- Madhya Pradesh: Chhatarpur, Chhindwara, Datia, Narsinghpur, Panna, Sagar, Satna, Seoni, Shivpuri and Tikamgarh districts; Maharashtra: Bhandara and Nagpur districts; Rajasthan state; Uttar Pradesh: Banda, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi, and L
Where they live
Gospel status
The Yadava (Bundeli) 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 Yadava (Bundeli)
- 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
Bundeli · Indo-European family
100% speak Bundeli
Gospel resources in Bundeli
- Bible available, published 2010
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Bundel Khandi)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Yadava (Bundeli)
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.