Sherpa in Bhutan


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 2

Subgroup Name Population
Solu-Khambuwan 1,600
Yukpa 1,600

Introduction / History

The name Sherpa means 'eastern people '. It is believed that all Sherpa once lived in Tibet before their descendants migrated west in the 15th century. 'At that time, a Mongol King attempted to force them to convert to his sect of Buddhism. The people fled to the Khumbu region.' A Chinese account states, 'They believe themselves to be descendants of Tibetans from the Kham region in Sichuan Province. Many, many years ago, their ancestors, returning from a pilgrimage to Buddhist temples in India and Nepal, settled down here.'
The Sherpa, despite being a relatively small group, are one of the most well-known peoples of Asia. The Sherpa inhabit both sides of the Himalayan Range. The majority live in India, primarily in the Darjeeling District of West Bengal and in the states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
More than Sherpa live in Nepal, especially in the Solu Khumbu District and around the famous town of Namche Bazaar. An additional 10,000 live in Bhutan. In Tibet, the exact Sherpa population is uncertain. Various publications have listed 'a mere 400 ', '800 speakers in China' and 'no more than 1,000 '. The Sherpa in Tibet inhabit parts of Dinggye, Tingri and Zhangmu counties. Tingri County is directly on the road from Kathmandu to Lhasa, a route frequented by many tour groups during the summer months. Small numbers of Sherpa have dispersed to South Korea and the USA in recent years. These numbers do not include the Helambu Sherpa, who speak a different language. The Helambu Sherpa have been profiled separately in this book.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Because the Sherpa language is related to Tibetan, most can communicate in a simple form of Tibetan. Few of the Sherpa in the Darjeeling area of India are still able to speak Sherpa.
For many, the name Sherpa is inextricably linked to the mystique of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth. The first men to climb Mount Everest were New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Numerous Sherpa guides have since led foreign climbing teams up the world's highest peak.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Sherpa are Tibetan Buddhists, although 'with far less piety than the Tibetans. To have a Buddhist statue and to recite or chant scriptures is all they do by way of religious practice.' The Gyawa festival takes place 49 days after the death of a loved one. The Sherpa eat as much food as they can during the festival, believing that the food will nourish the loved one who has died.
In 1985, a Sherpa boy in Nepal had a vision in which Jesus visited him. The boy's conversion was followed by the gradual conversion of his extended family and several families in his village. The boy later went to Bible school and returned to pastor the local church in his village. There are reported to be at least a few dozen Christian Sherpas around the Mt Everest region in Nepal.


What Are Their Needs?

The Sherpa people in Bhutan need the chance to hear and respond to the only savior, Jesus Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving and dedicated workers.
Pray for the Lord to draw the Sherpas to those who follow Christ.


Scripture Prayers for the Sherpa in Bhutan.


References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Sherpa
People Name in Country Sherpa
Pronunciation Sher-pah
Alternate Names Bhotia; Drukpa; Khambuwan; Manang; Serwa; Sharpa; Sharpa Bhotia; Sherdukpen; Solu; Solu-Khambuwan; Toto; Xiaerba; Xiarba; Yelmo; शेरपा
Population this Country 10,000
Population all Countries 190,000
Total Countries 5
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 4  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 14906
ROP3 Code 108938
ROP25 Code 307461
ROP25 Name Sherpa
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Western
9,300
Central
400
Southern
300
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Western 9,300
  Central 400
  Southern 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
95.98 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
4.02 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Sherpa
Language Code xsr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Nepali
Primary Language Sherpa
Language Code xsr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Nepali
People Groups Speaking Sherpa
Photo Source COMIBAM / Sepal 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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