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People group profile · PG049152

The Sonar of Nepal

The Sonar of Nepal, numbering about 253,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are traditionally goldsmiths and jewelers, a Shudra artisan caste of Nepal's Hindu social hierarchy grouped alongside the Kami and Lohar smithing communities, now diversifying beyond their historic craft into business and public life.

They are an indigenous people in the Sonar people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Nepali (individual language).

Pray for the SonarPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Nepal
Population
253,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Sonar
Primary language
Nepali (individual language) (npi)
Primary religion
Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
Lostness priority
Pioneer Unreached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia

Where they live

Gospel status

The Sonar 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 initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting

Next steps for the Sonar

  • 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

98% adherents

Primary language

Nepali (individual language) · Indo-European family

100% speak Nepali (individual language)

Gospel resources in Nepali (individual language)

  • Bible available, published 2012
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

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

Pray for the Sonar

  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

Sonar in other countries

The same people (ROP3 113659) is reported in 1 other country.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
SonarIndia9,780,000Engaged yet Unreached

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