Sikkim Bhotia 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

Bhutan was closed off to the rest of the world for centuries. The Bhotia believe they have been Buddhists since the Tibetan sage Padmasambhava flew across the Himalayas on the back of a tiger and introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in 746 AD.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Bhutan is not as closed to the outside world as it once was, but access is still limited. But the larger obstacle is the mindset of the prevailing religion.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Sikkim Bhotia people are solidly Buddhist. Young men are required to make an oath of allegiance to Buddha at age 15.


What Are Their Needs?

Only in recent years has the gospel of Christ started to gain a foothold. The Sikkim Bhotia people need the chance to hear and respond to Christ’s offer of abundant life.


Prayer Points

Sustained prayer is needed to prepare the hearts of the people of Bhutan to understand the message of Christ, and to believe.
Pray for the followers of Jesus among the Bhotia community, that their faith in Christ will be strengthened by regular fellowship together.
Pray for an accurate understanding of the grace offered by Christ, and that they will desire to be obedient to Christ's teachings.
Pray for hunger to find a solution to their sin problem.


Scripture Prayers for the Bhotia Sikkim in Bhutan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bhotia Sikkim
People Name in Country Bhotia Sikkim
Natural Name Sikkim Bhotia
Pronunciation SIK-im BOH-tee-ah
Alternate Names Bhotia of Sikkim; Bhutia; Danyouka; Lhopa; Lhori; Sikkim Bhotia; भोटिया (बुद्धिस्ट ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 6,200
Population all Countries 105,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 16450
ROP3 Code 111611
ROP25 Code 301167
ROP25 Name Bhotia
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
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 1
  Western 6,200
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 Sikkimese
Language Code sip   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Tibetan, Central Lepcha Nepali
Sherpa
Primary Language Sikkimese
Language Code sip   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Tibetan, Central
  Lepcha
  Nepali
  Sherpa
People Groups Speaking Sikkimese

Primary Language:  Sikkimese

Bible Translation Status:  Translation Needed

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Kandell, Alice S. - Library of Congress  Creative Commons 
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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