People group profile · PG047894
The Lohar (Magahi) of India
The Lohar (Magahi) of India, numbering about 2,250,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a traditional artisan community of South Asia, best known historically as iron‑workers and blacksmiths, with a long presence across India, Nepal, and parts of Pakistan.
They are an indigenous people in the Punjabi people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Magahi.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 2,250,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Punjabi
- Primary language
- Magahi (mag)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Dispersed CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Bihar: Arwal, Aurangabad, western Bhagalpur, Gaya, Jehanabad, western Munger, Nalanda, Nawada, eastern Patna, and Sheikhpura districts; Jharkhand: Giridih, Hazaribagh, Palamu, southern Ranchi districts, and north Chota Nagpur area
Where they live
Gospel status
The Lohar (Magahi) 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 dispersed church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Dispersed Church Planting
Next steps for the Lohar (Magahi)
- 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
100% adherents
Primary language
Magahi · Indo-European family
100% speak Magahi
Gospel resources in Magahi
- Bible available, published 2016
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Magahi)
Bibles
- 2014 Asian Sahyogi Sanstha India Gorakhpur, (U.P.) · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Lohar (Magahi)
- 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.
- 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.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.