People group profile · PG049393
The Gardi of India
The Gardi of India, numbering about 4,900 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Scheduled Caste of Jammu and Kashmir related to the Jogi and Doom, ranked between them in local hierarchy, traditionally serving as musicians and singers of religious hymns at ceremonies.
They are an indigenous people in the Punjabi people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Dogri (individual language).

Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 4,900
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Punjabi
- Primary language
- Dogri (individual language) (dgo)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Jammu and Kashmir: Jammu and Kathua districts
Where they live
Gospel status
The Gardi 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 Gardi
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Dogri (individual language) · Indo-European family
100% speak Dogri (individual language)
Gospel resources in Dogri (individual language)
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories available
Films
- JESUS (Dogri)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Gardi
- 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.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
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