The Swangla of India

The Swangla of India, numbering approximately 13,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Scheduled Tribe category of the Pattan valley in Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, encompassing Brahmin, Rana, and Rajput lineages. Agriculture remains their major activity, alongside wage labor and trade. They mostly adhere to Folk Hinduism and Pattani is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Tibetan Peoples
Country: India
People Cluster: Tibetan
Primary Language(s): Pattani (lae)
Primary Religion(s): Folk Hinduism
Population: 13,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG042173
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Swangla 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

95%
%
Folk Hinduism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Pattani
Language Family: Sino-Tibetan

74%
%
Pattani Speakers

Media Resources in Pattani:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Pattani:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Pattani bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Swangla 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 Swangla:
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 Swangla of India

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
readMatthew 4:16

Pray that those living in darkness and the shadow of death will see a great light and turn to the Lord for salvation.

...I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
readPsalm 13:5

Ask God to bring many to trust in His unfailing love and cause their hearts to rejoice in His salvation.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
readDeuteronomy 6:5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and might, as they strive to live lives that honor and glorify Him.

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
readIsaiah 51:11

Pray that, as God sends people to cross cultures and share the good news of Jesus, many will turn to the Lord in repentance and faith and start a personal relationship with Him that will bring them everlasting joy.

Swangla Across Countries (ROP3 - 113712) 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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