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People group profile · PG048200

The Badhai (Marathi) of India

The Badhai (Marathi) of India, numbering about 1,085,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a traditional carpenter and builder community within the larger Vishwakarma artisan heritage of India, historically responsible for much of the woodworking, temple construction, and craftsmanship found across northern India.

They are an indigenous people in the Badhai people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Marathi.

Pray for the Badhai (Marathi)Print profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Badhai (Marathi) people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Badhai (Marathi)

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
1,085,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Badhai
Primary language
Marathi (mar)
Primary religion
Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index ?
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia
Location
Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh states; Maharashtra: Belgaum, Bidar, and Karnataka districts

Where they live

Gospel status

The Badhai (Marathi) 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 Badhai (Marathi)

  • 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

Hinduism

100% adherents

Primary language

Marathi · Indo-European family

100% speak Marathi

Gospel resources in Marathi

  • Bible available, published 2022
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Badhai (Marathi)

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

Download a prayer guide

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