People group profile · PG048228
The Dhanak (Awadhi) of India
The Dhanak (Awadhi) of India, numbering about 106,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a large, caste‑based community of northern India with ancient occupational roots in agriculture and service.
They are an indigenous people in the Bihari people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Awadhi.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 106,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Bihari
- Primary language
- Awadhi (awa)
- Primary religion
- Folk 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
- Bihar state; Delhi; Madhya Pradesh state; Uttar Pradesh: Allahabad, Bahraich, Bara-Banki, Faizabad, Gonda, Kheri, Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Rae-Bareli, Sitapur, Sultanpur, and Unnao districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Dhanak (Awadhi) 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Dhanak (Awadhi)
- 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
Awadhi · Indo-European family
100% speak Awadhi
Gospel resources in Awadhi
- Bible available, published 2005
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Easy-to-Read Version · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Dhanak (Awadhi)
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
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