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People group profile · PG048206

The Bari (Marathi) of India

The Bari (Marathi) of India, numbering about 102,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a traditional leaf-plate-making and service community of northern and eastern India, whose historical role was closely connected with Hindu temples, feasts, and ceremonial life.

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

Pray for the Bari (Marathi)Print profile

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

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
102,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Hindi
Primary language
Marathi (mar)
Primary religion
Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index ?
Unengaged and 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 Bari (Marathi) are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Bari (Marathi)

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

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 Bari (Marathi)

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

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