Thakali in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Thakali people dominated the salt trade of western Nepal and northeast India for hundreds of years. They would deliver their salt to India, Nepal and Tibet. This made them one of the wealthier groups in northeast India. Today, the Thakali have had to get other jobs. Illiteracy is an issue for the Thakali especially for their women.

The two primary languages of the Thakali are Nepali and their own langue of Thakali. A complete Nepali Bible became available in 2004.


Where Are they Located?

The Thakali people live in Assam and Sikkim, states in northeastern India, and in Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Inexpensive, factory-scale production of salt has led to many Thakali to seek other types of employment. Many have entered the agriculture and animal husbandry business. They grow wheat, maize, vegetables, lentils, and fruit. Chickens provide eggs and meat. Goats and sheep provide meat, hides, wool, and milk.

The Thakali young men have an unusual way of getting a bride. Thakali men traditionally obtain their brides by abducting a girl when she is gathering wood in the forest or fetching water from a stream. She is taken back to the boy's home for several days, after which notification is sent to the girl's parents, bidding them to agree to the marriage.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The vast majority of Indian Thakali would call themselves Hindus. Their Hinduism is strongly influenced by Buddhism and animism. They Thakali believe that spirits inhabit the objects of nature such as rocks, rivers, trees, and the sky. These spirits must be appeased by offerings and prayers or they can bring calamities upon the community.


What Are Their Needs?

The Thakali would benefit by learning to new job skills and access modern medicine. Solar panels can provide electricity for cell phones and appliances. The Thakali need good secondary schools to educate their children. Most of all, the Thakali must see that their Hinduism will not get them right with the one, true God. Jesus alone can forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done among the Thakali people.
Pray for a movement of Thakali households to study the Bible and accept the blessings of Christ.
Pray for a spiritual hunger that will drive the Thakali people to the arms of Jesus.
Pray for workers who are filled with the fruit and the power of the Holy Spirit to go to the Thakali people.


Scripture Prayers for the Thakali in India.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thakali_people
https://www.greathimalayatrails.com/ght-about-nepal/thakali-people/
https://books.google.com/books?id=OzEOKNPsv2EC&pg=PA8&lpg=PA8&dq=People+of+the+Buddhist+World+Thakali&source=bl&ots=u-j_nkDIND&sig=ACfU3U0gkxWtQO3jU9mWiuD4VPe_gkABSA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiuqtaj9b7jAhXUJzQIHWdKAqMQ6AEwBHoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=People%20of%20the%20Buddhist%20World%20Thakali&f=false


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Thakali
People Name in Country Thakali
Alternate Names Tapaang; Thaksya; Thakuri; तकली
Population this Country 2,400
Population all Countries 15,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18235
ROP3 Code 113764
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 3
Largest States
Assam
1,800
Sikkim
500
Meghalaya
20
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 3
  Assam 1,800
  Sikkim 500
  Meghalaya 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
3.20 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.18 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
94.62 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nepali (2,400 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nepali (2,400 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2024)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible The Love Fellowship
Mobile App Android Bible app: TBS Nepali Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Nepali Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Nepali General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Nepali Bible Stories Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Nepali Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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