People group profile · PG047917
The Dhobi (Dogri) of India
The Dhobi (Dogri) of India, numbering about 8,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a traditional washer (laundry) community of South Asia, best known historically for washing clothes for households, temples, armies, and towns. They are a caste‑based occupational group, found across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
They are an indigenous people in the Dhobi people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Dogri (individual language).
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 8,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Dhobi
- Primary language
- Dogri (individual language) (dgo)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Jammu and Kashmir: Kathua, Poonch, Reasi, and Udhampur districts; Himachal Pradesh: Chamba and Kangra districts; Punjab: Gurdaspur district
Where they live
Gospel status
The Dhobi (Dogri) 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, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Dhobi (Dogri)
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
100% adherents
Primary language
Dogri (individual language) · Indo-European family
100% speak Dogri (individual language)
Gospel resources in Dogri (individual language)
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Dogri)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Dhobi (Dogri)
- 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.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
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