The Loba live largely in the Mustang district of Bhutan, which extends north into what would otherwise be China. Until 1952 this small group had their own Buddhist kingdom, which was established around 1380 AD.
It is common for a Loba woman to be married to several men; this practice is called polyandry. The Loba believe that if a woman has many husbands, she has less chance of becoming a vulnerable widow. This is a unique feature of the Loba, but one that is slowly diminishing. The younger Loba want to discard it, but the older generation feels it is necessary.
The Loba are primarily farmers, shepherds or merchants. They build their homes out of stone, making the roofs out of thinly chiseled stone squares. The roofs are extremely uniform and smooth, and on each corner a small square is constructed so that prayer flags may be hung there. Most houses are built close together and have no windows, only holes in the walls to protect against the powerful winds that race up the mountains. Their homes are never built toward the south because of the fierceness of these winds. Unfortunately, this is a drawback in the summertime because the houses grow very hot due to the lack of ventilation. For this reason, people often sleep on the terraces during the summer to escape the heat.
Almost all Loba are zealous believers in Tibetan Buddhism. There are many temples and monasteries throughout their territory.
Buddhism teaches a very different worldview than that of the Bible. It will take an act of God for them to accept biblical concepts.
Pray the strongly Buddhist Loba will be given a knowledge of their sin and need for a savior.
As they hunger to know forgiveness, pray the Lord will send knowledge of his Son's death and provision for forgiveness to them.
Pray that soon there will be Loba disciples who will make more disciples.
Scripture Prayers for the Loba in Bhutan.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Loba |
People Name in Country | Loba |
Pronunciation |
LOH-bah
|
Alternate Names | Lhopa; Lhopas; Lo; Lo Manthang; Lo Montang; Lo Monthang; Lopa; Lowa; Loyu; Loyu Lo Montang; Manthang; Mustang; Mustang Bhote; Mustang Tibetans; Mustange; Sat Thapaule Bhote; लोबा |
Population this Country | 2,200 |
Population all Countries | 5,300 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 13080 |
ROP3 Code | 105808 |
ROP25 Code | 304755 |
ROP25 Name | Loba |
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 2,200 | |
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 | Lhowa | |||
Language Code | loy Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 2 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Lhowa |
Language Code | loy Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 2 |
Secondary Languages | |
Nepali | |
People Groups | Speaking Lhowa |
Primary Language: Lhowa
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (2009) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2022-2023) |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories | One Story |
General | Gospel resources links | Scripture Earth |
General | YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | Android Bible app: Lhowa | YouVersion Bibles |
Mobile App | iOS Bible app: Lhowa | YouVersion Bibles |
Photo Source | RiverMountainPhoto - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |