Tamang in Nepal


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: 18 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Lasa 1,600
Bal 300
Bomyan 300
Bopchan 300
Domjan 300
Dong 300
Grongder 300
Gyapole 300
Jhimpa 300
Lopchan 300

Introduction / History

The name Tamang means "horse trader." They were involved with a long war with their rivals, the Gurkhas, who eventually defeated them. The Tamangs once had forced labor obligations. Their land was divided by clan. They have about 100 clans. Most of the Tamang live in Nepal or India, but there are smaller numbers of them in Bangladesh and Bhutan. Most of the Tamang live in Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are generally very poor, yet they enjoy festivals, music and cultural events. They have their own song and dance style called Tamang Selo. These songs can be about sorrow, humor, joy or satire. Their main festival is Sonam Lhochhar. It welcomes the new year in February or March.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Tamang follow Tibetan Buddhism but mix this heavily with animism and to a lesser extent, with Hinduism. Their priests, or lamas, have a dominant role in the community and perform ceremonies for funerals, etc. Perhaps the most powerful person in society, however, is the shaman, who exorcises demons and interacts with the spirit world.


What Are Their Needs?

The area is more open to outsiders than it has been in previous times, but there is still some difficulty in entering. The smaller Tamang group in India has a significant number of Christian believers. Perhaps these followers of Christ will see the need to carry the gospel to the remainder of their own people in Nepal.


Prayer Points

There are some followers of Jesus today among the Tamang of Nepal. Pray for these people to be good ambassadors for Christ in Nepal.
Pray they will seek each other out to fellowship together.
Pray they will be zealous to know Christ and follow his ways.
Pray for the entire Tamang community to be able to care well for their families, to find ways to generate income and meet basic needs.


Scripture Prayers for the Tamang in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tamang
People Name in Country Tamang
Alternate Names Eastern Tamang; Ishang; Lama; Murmi; Nishang; Nishung; Tamanglama; तमंग
Population this Country 1,768,000
Population all Countries 2,052,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 18212
ROP3 Code 102861
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Buddhist
People Group Tamang
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 18 (only 15 largest shown)
  Lasa 1,600
  Bal 300
  Bomyan 300
  Bopchan 300
  Domjan 300
  Dong 300
  Grongder 300
  Gyapole 300
  Jhimpa 300
  Lopchan 300
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Bagmati
843,000
Narayani
343,000
Janakpur
240,000
Kosi
106,000
Sagarmatha
74,000
Mechi
72,000
Gandaki
50,000
Karnali
15,000
Lumbini
10,000
Seti
3,900
Bheri
3,600
Mahakali
3,500
Dhaulagiri
1,900
Rapti
1,100
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 14
  Bagmati 843,000
  Narayani 343,000
  Janakpur 240,000
  Kosi 106,000
  Sagarmatha 74,000
  Mechi 72,000
  Gandaki 50,000
  Karnali 15,000
  Lumbini 10,000
  Seti 3,900
  Bheri 3,600
  Mahakali 3,500
  Dhaulagiri 1,900
  Rapti 1,100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
81.95 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
6.60 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
10.81 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.53 %
Unknown
0.11 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamang, Eastern (823,000 speakers)
Language Code taj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 30
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Tamang, Western
406,000
Nepali
165,000
Tamang, Eastern Gorkha
121,000
Sherpa
3,300
Bantawa
3,200
Lepcha
1,900
Bhojpuri
1,900
Maithili
1,500
Chamling
1,300
Wambule
900
Sampang
800
Musasa
700
Kham, Western Parbate
500
Dotyali
400
Humla
400
Primary Language Tamang, Eastern (823,000 speakers)
Language Code taj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 30
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Tamang, Western 406,000
  Nepali 165,000
  Tamang, Eastern Gorkha 121,000
  Sherpa 3,300
  Bantawa 3,200
  Lepcha 1,900
  Bhojpuri 1,900
  Maithili 1,500
  Chamling 1,300
  Wambule 900
  Sampang 800
  Musasa 700
  Kham, Western Parbate 500
  Dotyali 400
  Humla 400
People Groups Speaking Tamang, Eastern

Primary Language:  Tamang, Eastern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2005)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2011-2012)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) 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
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Tamang, Eastern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
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
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Eastern Tamang New Testament NMB Apps
Mobile App Android Bible app: Eastern Tamang Old Testament NMB Apps
Mobile App Android Bible app: Tamang, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Tamang, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Download scripture in this language eBible.org
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  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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