Matpa in Bhutan

The Matpa have only been reported in Bhutan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Matpa people are concentrated in the lower areas of Mongar District in eastern Bhutan. Their two largest villages are Tsamang and Tsakaling. Several Matpa villages are also located within the Lhuntse District further to the north, especially in and around the village of Kurmet. They have also been listed by their language name, Chocangacakha, which is closely related to Dzongkha, Bhutan's national language spoken by the Drukpa people.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The importance of Tibetan Buddhism and the unity that it fosters are best seen among the Matpa people during festivals and ceremonies. The whole community attends, dressed in their festive best. Participants wear gruesome masks depicting powerful demons, and stories are told of how the Buddhist sage Padmasambhava defeated demonic forces with the truth of Buddhism.


What Are Their Beliefs?

All Matpa people are followers of Tibetan Buddhism.


What Are Their Needs?

Being an official Buddhist kingdom, Bhutan has been largely locked away from the influence of the gospel for centuries until recent decades, when migrants from Nepal and India have brought Christianity into the country for the first time on any significant scale. The Buddhist groups, however, have remained largely untouched by the gospel. They see Christianity as a foreign religion with little relevance to their lives. Others see Christianity as a threat to traditional Bhutanese values and culture.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to pave the way for gospel outreach among the Matpa people.
Pray for long term workers who will produce gospel materials in their language.
Pray for many to be drawn to the King of kings.


Scripture Prayers for the Matpa in Bhutan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Matpa
People Name in Country Matpa
Alternate Names Chocangacakha; Cocangacakha; Kursmadkha; Maphekha; Rtsamangpa'ikha; Tsamangpakha; मतपा
Population this Country 21,000
Population all Countries 21,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 19268
ROP3 Code 115324
ROP25 Code 305275
ROP25 Name Matpa
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country They are concentrated in the lower areas of Mongar District in eastern Bhutan. Their two largest villages are Tsamang and Tsakaling. A number of Matpa villages are also located within the Lhuntse District further to the north.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Eastern
19,000
Western
2,000
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country They are concentrated in the lower areas of Mongar District in eastern Bhutan. Their two largest villages are Tsamang and Tsakaling. A number of Matpa villages are also located within the Lhuntse District further to the north..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States 2
  Eastern 19,000
  Western 2,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
100.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
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 Chocangacakha (21,000 speakers)
Language Code cgk   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chocangacakha (21,000 speakers)
Language Code cgk   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chocangacakha

Primary Language:  Chocangacakha

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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