Charumba 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

Much confusion surrounds the tiny, little-known Zakhring tribe of northeast India. They inhabit the hilly terrain and the banks of the Lohit River in the Walong and Kibithoo area (Hayuliang Subdivision) of the Lohit District in Arunachal Pradesh.
Regardless of their small size and the multiplicity of names, the Indian government has granted official status to this group as a Scheduled Tribe.
Scholar Dutta Choudhury says the Charumba arrived from the north (Tibet) in two waves of migration—the first in the late 1800s and the second wave a few years later in the early 1900s. These two separate migrations may explain why such a small group of a few hundred people speak two distinct dialects, which the Ethnologue labels Lower Zyphe and Upper Zyphe. When they first arrived in the Lohit District they 'had to face bitter opposition from the Mishmis. However, Charumba migrants overcame the opposition and settled in and around Walong. '


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Charumba enjoy close relationships with the Tibetans and Monpa, and intermarriage with these groups is encouraged. Many Tibetan refugees live nearby. Charumba art reflects their origins in Tibet and their faith in Tibetan Buddhism. The Charumba 'paint scrolls and murals, make wooden images of Buddha and produce some hand painted wooden objects and masks.’


What Are Their Beliefs?

Along with Buddhism, the Charumba practice the shamanistic Bon religion. Charumba Buddhism is tinged with beliefs in animism and shamanism. Their shamanistic priest is known as kahu who practices witchcraft. He is often called in to cure a person suffering from a disease. Besides Lord Buddha and the Bodhistatvas, the Zakhrings also have a community deity or village deity known as Yong or the deity of the hills. Thus, each village has a separate Yong. '


What Are Their Needs?

The Charumba are isolated in a small area that has needs outside help for economic development. They lack adequate medical and educational facilities.


Prayer Points

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


Scripture Prayers for the Charumba in India.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Charumba
People Name in Country Charumba
Alternate Names Meyor; Zakhring; चारूमबा
Population this Country 1,100
Population all Countries 1,900
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 18354
ROP3 Code 113908
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)
Location in Country The Zakhring (Charumba) inhabit the hilly terrain and the banks of the Lohit River in the Walong and Kibithoo area of the Lohit District in Arunachal Pradesh, India.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
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)
Location in Country The Zakhring (Charumba) inhabit the hilly terrain and the banks of the Lohit River in the Walong and Kibithoo area of the Lohit District in Arunachal Pradesh, India..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States 1
  Arunachal Pradesh 1,100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
84.64 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
7.73 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
2.87 %
Islam
0.10 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.10 %
Unknown
4.56 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Zakhring (900 speakers)
Language Code zkr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Sadri
90
Sartang
30
Adi
Digaro-Mishmi
Primary Language Zakhring (900 speakers)
Language Code zkr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Sadri 90
  Sartang 30
  Adi 10
  Digaro-Mishmi 10
People Groups Speaking Zakhring

Primary Language:  Zakhring

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, 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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