The Barwala of India

The Barwala of India, numbering approximately 79,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Scheduled Caste community of the Jammu valley, also known as Doom or Dum Bantwal, who claim to be the region's original inhabitants. Traditionally village watchmen and messengers, they now work mainly in agriculture and labor and speak Dogri. They mostly adhere to Folk Hinduism and Dogri (individual language) is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Country: India
People Cluster: Other South Asian
Primary Language(s): Dogri (individual language) (dgo)
Primary Religion(s): Folk Hinduism
Population: 79,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG041951
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Barwala 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.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Folk Hinduism
Religious Affiliation: Hinduism

99%
%
Folk Hinduism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Dogri (individual language)
Language Family: Indo-European

100%
%
Dogri Speakers

Media Resources in Dogri (individual language):

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Dogri (individual language):

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Dogri (individual language) bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Barwala 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 Barwala:
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 Barwala of India

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
readPsalm 67:3

Pray that those who are lost and unaware of God's blessings will come to know Him as the one true God, put their trust in Him, and join in praising Him among the nations.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
readRomans 5:1

Pray that the gospel will advance and that many who are far from God will receive the good news of salvation with joy and have peace with God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
readMatthew 28:18-20

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will have confidence because Jesus has all authority and is with them as they make disciples and teach others about Him.

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
readJohn 7:38

Ask God to raise up believers and sustain them as they cross cultures to share hope with those who need it. Pray that many might come to know Christ and that streams of living water will flow from their hearts so they will never thirst again.

Barwala, Hindu Across Countries (ROP3 - 111475) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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