India may be divided into four main regions: the Himalayas, the northern river-plains region, the Deccan Plateau, and the Eastern and Western Ghat Mountains. Because of its numerous geographical features, climatic conditions are also widely diversified on both a seasonal and regional basis, ranging from tropical to temperate extremes.

The 66,300 Bhadrawahi. are located predominantly in the northern states of Jammu and Kashmir. Their language is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family. Little is known about their specific lifestyle and culture.

What are their lives like?
About 73% of India's population lives in rural areas and is engaged in some form of agriculture. Many are farmers who barely grow enough to survive. Farms are extremely small and often very fragmented. The raising of livestock, particularly horned cattle, buffalo, horses, and mules, is a central feature of the economy. Because of Hindu influence, however, these animals are used almost exclusively as beasts of burden rather than sources of meat.

Indian culture is primarily Hindu-oriented. Many Hindu institutions, including the rigid caste (social class) system, have wide-ranging effects on Indian society. The word "caste" basically means breed, race, or kind. Indian society is divided into hierarchical castes that are usually endogamous (marriage only within the caste). Castes may be defined by occupation or by kinship and lineage, but there are exceptions. Nevertheless, caste is so fundamental to the social organization of India that it prevails in all parts, except some of the tribal populations. Not enough is known about the Bhadrawahi to accurately place them in the caste system; thus, their particular lifestyle cannot be adequately described.

The people of Jammu are simple and open-hearted with a good sense of humor. They are generally good-looking, smart, tall, and well-built. Most of them eat three meals a day and have been known to drink alcoholic beverages. Their social life is reflected in their festivals and fairs, most of which are associated with religious events.

What are their beliefs?
The Bhadrawahi are 99.9% Hindu and follow the basic Hindu customs and traditions. The term "Hinduism" came into use about A.D.1200, but clearly identifying what Hindus believe is difficult. The religion has no founder, no prophet, and no instructional structure. It is a way of living much more than a theology; it is a philosophy more than a religion. Contrary to popular belief in the West, Hinduism is not an ancient, fixed set of beliefs. Rather, it is a body of customs, practices, and beliefs which go through major changes every few hundred years.

The majority of Hindus believe in a supreme being. Some respect all life and eat only vegetables, while others will gladly eat meat from sacrifices in the temple. To some, their religion is highly personal; to others, it is impersonal. While most Hindus worship Brahman ("the creator of the universe"), Shiva ("the destroyer"), Vishnu ("the preserver"), and the goddess Shaktri, they also worship a pantheon of other minor gods, their incarnations, spouses, or offspring. A belief in reincarnation (continual cycle of death and rebirth) is one of the few unifying features of Hinduism.

What are their needs?
The Bhadrawahi are lacking any Christian resources in their own language. The Bible, the Jesus film, and Christian radio broadcasts are not yet available to them. The few Christian believers need materials to encourage and strengthen them in their walk with the Lord. Intercession and missions effort are necessities to seeing the Bhadrawahi reached with the Good News of the Gospel.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers to work among the Bhadrawahi of India.
• Pray that Christian radio broadcasts, evangelical literature, and the Jesus film will be made available to the Bhadrawahi.
• Ask the Lord to raise up qualified linguists to translate the Bible into the Bhadrawahi language.
• Ask God to save key leaders among the Bhadrawahi who will boldly declare the Gospel.
• Pray that God will use the Bhadrawahi believers to share Christ with their own people.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Bhadrawahi bound.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
• Pray that strong local churches will be raised up among the Bhadrawahi.

THE PEOPLE

• People name: Bradrawahi
• Country: India
• Their language: Bhadrawahi
• Population: (1990) 60,200
  (1995) 66,300
  (2000) 72,400
• Largest religion: Hindu 99.9%
• Christians: <1%
• Church members: 66
• Scriptures in their own language: None
• Jesus Film in their own language: None
• Christian broadcasts in their own language: None
• Mission agencies working among this people: 0
• Persons who have heard the Gospel: 6,700 (11%) Those evangelized by local Christians: 3,400 (6%)
  Those evangelized from the outside: 3,300 (5%)
• Persons who have never heard the Gospel: 59,600 (89%)

• Country: India
• Population: (1990) 850,638,100
  (1995) 935,744,300
  (2000) 1,022,021,300
• Major peoples in size order: Hindi (High Hindi) 9.5%
  Telegu 7.8%
  Maratha 7.4%
  Bengali 6.4%
  Hindi (Bazaar, Popular) 5.5%
• Major religions: Hindus 78.2%
  Muslims 12%
  Christians 4.3%
• Number of denominations: 163