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

"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.

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them
readMatthew 4:24

Pray that the truth about the Lord will spread throughout the land so that many will have an opportunity to receive the good news and put their faith in Him.

But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.
readHebrews 10:38

Pray that as people trust in Christ, they will live by faith and not shrink back from their hope in Christ.

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
readActs 13:47

Pray that as people come to faith, they will follow the Lord's leading to go to their neighbors and share the treasure they found in Christ.

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

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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