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People group profile · PG049626

The Mhalo of India

The Mhalo of India, numbering about 1,100 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a barber community found across Goa, believed born from the navel of Lord Shiva, distinguished by their women's distinctive blouse style. Hair-cutting saloons remain common, alongside agriculture.

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

Pray for the MhaloPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
1,100
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Marathi-Konkani
Primary language
Konkani (individual language) (knn)
Primary religion
Hinduism
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
Gujarat: Valsad district; Dadra and Nagar Haveli; Maharashtra: Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudung, and Thane districts; probably in Mumbai

Where they live

Gospel status

The Mhalo 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 Mhalo

  • 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

Hinduism

99% adherents

Primary language

Konkani (individual language) · Indo-European family

100% speak Konkani (individual language)

Gospel resources in Konkani (individual language)

  • Bible available, published 1997
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

  • JESUS (Mangalorean Konkani)

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

Pray for the Mhalo

  1. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  2. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  3. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  4. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.

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