People group profile · PG049375
The Watal of India
The Watal of India, numbering about 250 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Scheduled Caste of the Kashmir valley, also called Batel or Sheikh, their name recalling the broomstick they traditionally carried. Shoe-mending, labor, and industrial work remain common, and they follow Sunni Islam.
They are an indigenous people in the Kashmiri people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Kashmiri.
Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 250
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Kashmiri
- Primary language
- Kashmiri (kas)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10%
- GSEC ?
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Himachal Pradesh: Chamba and Lahul Spiti districts in Kashmir valley; Jammu and Kashmir: Anantag, Badgam, Bandipore, eastern Baramula and Kupwara, Doda, Ganderbal, Kargil, Kishtwar, Kulgam, west Leh, Ramban, and Shupian districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Watal are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Watal
- Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
- Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
- Send out laborers from this people to the nations
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
100% adherents
Primary language
Kashmiri · Indo-European family
100% speak Kashmiri
Gospel resources in Kashmiri
- Bible available, published 2011
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Watal
- 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.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.