Salvi in India

People Name:	Salvi
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	105,000
World Population:	105,000
Primary Language:	Mewari
Primary Religion:	Hinduism
Christian Adherents:	0.13 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	New Testament
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Dalit - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Salvi are one of the Mewari speaking peoples living in Rajasthan, one of India's least reached states.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The scorching heat of the summer and the freezing cold of the winter make life miserable for the Salvi people. The dusty atmosphere makes everyday life difficult. Drought and famine strike the land every third or fourth year. Cattle and animals die in the chilly cold weather.
Most of the Salvi people are vegetarian. Roti (chappathi) made of wheat and maize is the common food. Rice is served as a special dish. Chewing pan and smoking are accepted habits.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Salvi people are very religious and are proud of their culture. People worship several deities and gurus. There are plenty of temples all over the region.

What Are Their Needs?

Missionaries in the past had concentrated their work among the low caste people and tribals. But the high caste people should also be reached with the gospel. Churches have to be established among these major social groups. Salvi people will remain unreached unless these people are won for the Kingdom.
The message of the Kingdom of God should be shared in the heart language of the people in the way they can understand it. The church worship needs to be structured in their mother-tongue.
Leaders should be developed among the local believers so that they will reach out to their own people. Then the churches will continue to grow among them even without external leadership. But to make this possible someone needs to go to them.

Prayer Points

Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send Holy Spirit anointed laborers to work on this dry land. The workers are few!
Pray for spiritual hunger and discernment among the Salvi people and others in Rajasthan.
Pray for a move of the Holy Spirit to draw entire Salvi families into Christ's loving kingdom.