Monpa 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

Monpa people are Mongaloid in descent. Monpa means, "blessed by a horse."


Where Are they Located?

Monpa people live in the regions of Tawang and West Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh in India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Monpa people are known as friendly and hard working. They work in agriculture, trading, and breeding of yaks and cattle. They are cultivators of potatoes. The foundation seeds are brought from Himachal Pradesh and are grown by Monpa people to give certified seeds. They are sold to farmers in other regions of Arunachal Pradesh.
Other crops are barley, rice, maize and wheat. Tawang is suitable for growing oranges, apples and nuts.

Monpa people live in two story houses made of stone and with planks for floors. They are artistic people who make carpets, utensils from bamboo, and wooden items. They have made a name for themselves with their paintings and paper making.

Marriage usually involves one spouse, although more are allowed. Cross-cousin marriage is the most common practice. Divorce, and remarriage of widows is allowed.

Monpa celebrate festivals. Their language is Tibeto-Burman, but different from that of East Tibet.


No written, audio, or visual Bible resources are known to exist in the Monpa language.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Monpa are Buddhists. The Tawang monastery is the spiritual mainstay of their lives which includes spirit worship and animal sacrifices. The god Buddha has much influence over their lives.


What Are Their Needs?

No written, audio, or visual Bible resources are known to exist in the Tibeto-Burman language which Monpa people speak.

The most important need is for Monpa people to understand that their good works and worship of Buddha will never pay the penalty for their sins, and that Almighty Creator God has made a provision for them.


Prayer Points

Pray that Monpa people will see that their old systems of ethics and religion are not working, and that their only hope is in Jesus Christ.
Pray that intercessors worldwide will regularly pray for salvation of Monpa people.
Pray that churches will be planted and disciples will flourish who will reach their own people with truth of the gospel.


Scripture Prayers for the Monpa in India.


References

www.indiantravelportal.com/arunachal-pradesh/tribes/monpas.html
http://www.indianetzone.com/8/monpa_tribe.htm
http://www.wycliffe.net/en/SearchResults/tabid/88/language/en-US/Default.aspx?q=Tibeto+Burman+language


Profile Source:   Karen Hightower  

People Name General Monpa
People Name in Country Monpa
Pronunciation MON-pah
Alternate Names Memba; Menpa; Monba; मोनपा
Population this Country 45,000
Population all Countries 144,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 17648
ROP3 Code 113086
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 2
Largest States
Arunachal Pradesh
45,000
Assam
10
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 2
  Arunachal Pradesh 45,000
  Assam 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
97.62 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.94 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.72 %
Islam
0.16 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.20 %
Unknown
0.35 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Monpa, Tawang (2,600 speakers)
Language Code twm   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 24
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Sikkimese
24,000
Sartang
1,800
Assamese
400
Hindi
400
Tibetan, Central
80
Nepali
60
Nyishi
50
Adi
30
Apatani
20
Santhali Bengali Marathi
Tagin Bhojpuri Munda
Primary Language Monpa, Tawang (2,600 speakers)
Language Code twm   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 24
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Sikkimese 24,000
  Sartang 1,800
  Assamese 400
  Hindi 400
  Tibetan, Central 80
  Nepali 60
  Nyishi 50
  Adi 30
  Apatani 20
  Santhali 10
  Bengali 10
  Marathi 0
  Tagin 0
  Bhojpuri 0
  Munda 0
People Groups Speaking Monpa, Tawang

Primary Language:  Monpa, Tawang

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Matt Hahnewald - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Karen Hightower 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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