Bhotia Tibetan in India
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Create International All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source:
People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.
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| People Name: | Bhotia Tibetan |
| Country: | India |
| 10/40 Window: | Yes |
| Population: | 4,000 |
| World Population: | 4,000 |
| Primary Language: | Sikkimese |
| Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
| Christian Adherents: | 0.00 % |
| Evangelicals: | 0.00 % |
| Scripture: | Translation Needed |
| Online Audio NT: | No |
| Jesus Film: | No |
| Audio Recordings: | Yes |
| People Cluster: | South Asia Tribal - other |
| Affinity Bloc: | South Asian Peoples |
| Progress Level: |
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Introduction / History
The Tibetan Bhotia are among the most complicated Buddhist groups. This is a generic term for several groups of people inhabiting the ranges along the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. The Indian government has granted scheduled tribe status to the Bhotia tribe.
The term Bhotia comes from Bhot, or Bod, the traditional name for people of Tibetan origin. The groups combined by the Indian authorities include many different ethnicities and languages, ranging from Jammu and Kashmir in north-west India all the way across to Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. They live in hilly terrain, of high altitude and cold climate, where there is high rainfall with medium snowfall and high humidity with dense forests. A migrant community has moved down into the Darjeeling District of West Bengal.
What Are Their Lives Like?
People from all different communities come together to celebrate Buddhist festivals and holidays, which creates good unity and relationships between them.
What Are Their Beliefs?
Being of Tibetan origin, it is not surprising that the Bhotia people strongly believe in Tibetan Buddhism. This is a form of Buddhism which is blended with bon, a form of shamanism involving the occult worship and practices.
Sikkimese Christians live inside Sikkim, while others live in the heavily-evangelized Darjeeling area in West Bengal. Some of those who have decided to follow Christ have been excommunicated from their villages. They can be used of God to reach the Bhotia people.
What Are Their Needs?
Prayer Points
Pray for them to understand and respond to Christ as the only answer for their spiritual needs.
Pray God will have mercy on the Tibetan Bhotia doing whatever it takes to place them in a position to receive him.
Ask God to open the hearts of the Tibetan Bhotia to the gospel.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.