The Darai of Nepal

The Darai of Nepal, numbering approximately 20,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Indigenous people of Nepal's inner Terai in Chitwan and Tanahun, of Mongoloid origin yet speaking an Indo-Aryan dialect like the Tharu rather than a Tibeto-Burman language. Traditionally Hindu, many still tattoo their bodies and consult village shamans. They mostly adhere to Hinduism and Darai is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Country: Nepal
People Cluster: Nepali-Pahari
Primary Language(s): Darai (dry)
Primary Religion(s): Hinduism
Population: 20,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG006197
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Darai of Nepal

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: Hinduism
Religious Affiliation: Hinduism

97%
%
Hinduism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Darai
Language Family: Indo-European

71%
%
Darai Speakers

Media Resources in Darai:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Darai:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Darai bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Darai 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 Darai:
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 Darai of Nepal

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
readJohn 16:33

Pray that those who don't have peace with God will find peace in Christ, even amid the troubles of this world.

And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
readZechariah 2:11

Pray that many will take refuge in the Lord and be His people who share the good news of salvation in Jesus with others.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
readPsalm 119:9

Pray that as young men place their faith in Jesus, they will walk in purity and live according to God's Word.

And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
readLuke 10:2

Ask God to send out laborers into His harvest field, raising up believers from around the world to go and proclaim the kingdom of God with those who need to hear it.

Darai Across Countries (ROP3 - 102448) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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