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People group profile · PG049464

The Shaksaz of India

The Shaksaz of India, numbering about 3,300 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Muslim basket-weaving community of Srinagar and Badgam districts in Kashmir, their name recalling twigs and the act of weaving. Making fire-pots and baskets from willow branches remains their primary craft and occupation.

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.

Pray for the ShaksazPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
3,300
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Kashmiri
Primary language
Kashmiri (kas)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index ?
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Frontier Unreached 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 Shaksaz 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 Shaksaz

  • 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

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 Shaksaz

  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.

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