Halwai of India (PGID: PG041337)

The Halwai of India

The Halwai of India, numbering approximately 1,925,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an occupational caste found across Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, whose name derives from halwa, the sweet they traditionally make and sell. The Halwai were historically employed by Muslim rulers and feudal courts. They mostly adhere to Hinduism and Maithili is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Halwai

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Country: India
People Cluster: Bihari
Primary Language(s): Maithili (mai)
Primary Religion(s): Hinduism
Population: 1,925,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
People Group ID: PG041337
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Pray for the Halwai of India

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Hinduism
Religious Affiliation: Hinduism

100%

Hinduism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Maithili
Language Family: Indo-European

50%

Maithili Speakers

Media Resources in Maithili:

Films:

Title	Link
JESUS	View Film
JESUS	View Film

2 films

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

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Bible Resources in Maithili:

Bible Name (Translation)	Video	Audio	Text
Wycliffe Bible Tranlsators, Inc.		✓	✓

1 entry

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Maithili bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Halwai are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Halwai:

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

Pray specifically for the Halwai of India

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
Matthew 4:16

Pray that those living in darkness and the shadow of death will see a great light and turn to the Lord for salvation.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14

Pray that the gospel of God's kingdom will reach more people and that they will respond in faith, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

"...I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
Matthew 16:18b

Pray that God will build and grow His Church among this people.

There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.
Mark 7:15

Pray for Christians to take any opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with lost people here, praying they will be wise like Jesus as they share the truth about what can defile people and what can make them clean.

Halwai, Hindu Across Countries (ROP3 - 112199) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index

All

Engaged yet Unreached UUPG No Longer Unreached

CountryReligion

2 people groups

Photo	People Group ID	Name	Country	Population ▼	Strategic Progress Index	Language	Religion
	PG041337	Halwai	India	1,925,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Maithili	Hinduism
	PG049127	Haluwai	Nepal	88,500	Engaged yet Unreached	Nepali (individual language)	Hinduism

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