Bhand (Urdu) of India (PGID: PG042054)

The Bhand (Urdu) of India

The Bhand (Urdu) of India, numbering approximately 37,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a traditional occupational people group of South Asia, historically known as folk entertainers, jesters, actors, musicians, and storytellers. They mostly adhere to Sunni Islam and Urdu is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Country: India
People Cluster: Other South Asian
Primary Language(s): Urdu (urd)
Primary Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Population: 37,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG042054
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Pray for the Bhand (Urdu) 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: Sunni Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

100%

Sunni Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Urdu
Language Family: Indo-European

100%

Urdu Speakers

Media Resources in Urdu:

Films:

Title	Link
JESUS	View Film
Magdalena	View Film
The Savior	View Film
The Savior	View Film

4 films

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Urdu:

Bible Name (Translation)	Video	Audio	Text
Easy-to-Read Version		✓	✓
Geo Version		✓	✓
Geo Version		✓	✓
Geo Version		✓	✓
Pakistan Bible Society		✓
Revised	✓

6 entries

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Urdu bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Bhand (Urdu) 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 Bhand (Urdu):

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 Bhand (Urdu) of India

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.
Romans 3:12

Pray that those who are enslaved to sin will admit their need for a Savior, acknowledging that no one is righteous.

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.

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Hebrews 10:36

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will patiently endure suffering and hardships and do God's will so that they may receive what He has promised.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5

Pray that when discouraging days come, those who cross cultures for the sake of the gospel will be comforted as they remember that the light of Christ is stronger than the darkness that surrounds them.

Bhand, Muslim Across Countries (ROP3 - 111574) 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
	PG042054	Bhand (Urdu)	India	37,000	Engaged yet Unreached	Urdu	Sunni Islam
	PG049109	Bhand	Nepal	17,500	Unengaged and Unreached	Urdu	Sunni Islam

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

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