Swangla 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.

Subgroups: 3

Subgroup Name Population
Rana 1,300
Rajput 1,200
Brahmin 1,100

Introduction / History

The Swangla are a small Hindu tribal group of people who live in north India in the foothills of the Himalayas. Their main occupations are agriculture and animal husbandry. For much of their history they have been isolated in the high valleys and hills where they live. The main language of the Swangla is Tinani. This is an endangered language with only 12,000 known speakers. A New Testament became available in Tinani in 2017. Illiteracy is a big problem for this small community.


Where Are they Located?

The Swangla community lives in the state of Himachal Pradesh in north central India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Swangla live in the harsh, cold and beautiful foothills of the Himalayas. They raise goats, sheep and yaks for their meat, milk and hides. In the short mountain summers they grow barley, potatoes, maize, and vegetables. The Swangla trade animals and their products for things that they cannot make for themselves such as cell phones, solar panels and tools.

Avalanches are a constant concern for the Swangla. Mountains of snow coming down from the hills can bury people, animals and villages. Most Swangla live at the subsistence level. A bad harvest or a disease can bring starvation.

Marriage to one spouse is the regular practice for the Swangla. Sons receive an equal inheritance from their father. Families arrange marriages with the consent of the young people. Only a basic, primary education is available for the Swangla children. They must often quit school early to help support their families.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Swangla people practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. They offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians. The Swangla also believe in evil spirits and ghosts. These spirits must be appeased by rituals, offerings and prayers.


What Are Their Needs?

As a small, isolated mountain community, the Swangla have many needs. They need adequate education for their children. They need access to modern medicine. Solar panels can supply electricity for cell phones and appliances. Most of all, the Swangla need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. He can deliver them form their fear of evil spirits forgive their sins and grant them eternal life.


Prayer Points

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Swangla people.
Pray for the Swangla people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.
Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Swangla people to change their society from within.
Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers Swangla disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Swangla communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Swangla in India.


References

http://hpgeneralstudies.com/ancient-modern-tribes-himachal-pradesh/
http://joktahpgk.blogspot.com/2016/02/himachal-tribes-1.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swangla


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Swangla
People Name in Country Swangla
Alternate Names स्वांगला
Population this Country 11,000
Population all Countries 11,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 18197
ROP3 Code 113712
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)
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 1
  Himachal Pradesh 11,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
3.40 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
96.47 %
Islam
0.13 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tinani (3,300 speakers)
Language Code lbf   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 19
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Pattani
2,100
Gahri
1,300
Spiti Bhoti
1,200
Stod Bhoti
900
Hindi
500
Kangri
200
Kinnauri
80
Sikkimese
60
Bhattiyali
40
Kuvi English Punjabi, Eastern
Kashmiri Tibetan, Central Sherpa
Primary Language Tinani (3,300 speakers)
Language Code lbf   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 19
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Pattani 2,100
  Gahri 1,300
  Spiti Bhoti 1,200
  Stod Bhoti 900
  Hindi 500
  Kangri 200
  Kinnauri 80
  Sikkimese 60
  Bhattiyali 40
  Kuvi 10
  English 10
  Punjabi, Eastern 0
  Kashmiri 0
  Tibetan, Central 0
  Sherpa 0
People Groups Speaking Tinani

Primary Language:  Tinani

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1908-1915)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2017-2022)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) 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
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Mobile App Android Bible App: Lahauli Bible Operation Agape
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  International Mission Board-SBC - Chris Woodall  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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