People group profile · PG049673
The Kathar of India
The Kathar of India, numbering about 11,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a wood-carving community found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan whose name derives from katkam, meaning carpentry. Making household wooden items remains their main livelihood.
They are an indigenous people in the Hindi people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Hinduism, and they primarily speak Gujarati.

Fast facts
- Country
- India
- Population
- 11,000
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Hindi
- Primary language
- Gujarati (guj)
- Primary religion
- Hinduism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC ?
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority ?
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Widespread in north India: northern Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand states; Delhi
Where they live
Gospel status
The Kathar 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 Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Kathar
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Gujarati · Indo-European family
100% speak Gujarati
Gospel resources in Gujarati
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1997 Bible League International · text
- Gujarati New India Bible · video
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Kathar
- 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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