Nepali in Myanmar (Burma)


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Many Nepalese left Nepal when it became a nation-state in the 1950s. They settled in various parts of northern India, as well as the neighboring countries of Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.
Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is a uniquely unspoiled country where there is little public pressure to modernize. This has allowed the country to maintain its traditional charm. The people who live there lead very simple lives. The official language is Burmese, but more than 100 distinct languages are spoken. The Nepalese population speak Khas Kura, a form of Nepali.
Although most of the people living in Myanmar are Buddhists, the Nepalese make up a very small Hindu minority. Like other Hindu, the Nepalese belong to a caste structure which has only two categories: upper class landowners and lower-class servants.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Nepalese in Myanmar are farmers. They grow wet rice during the monsoon season, whereas dry rice, maize, millet and wheat are raised on the drier land during the summer and winter months. The Nepalese also cultivate vegetable gardens to feed their families. Most of the farmers raise buffalo and goats for meat and cows for milk.
Nepalese villages consist of loosely grouped homes surrounded by farmland. The villages are generally situated near rivers or springs, and the homes are connected by footpaths. Sometimes the paths meet near a large tree that is used as a meeting place for the villagers, as well as a resting place for travelers. There are also several larger towns where the important temples or monasteries are located.
Houses are usually made of mudbrick with thatch or tin roofs. The bottom portion of the houses are painted with red clay and the top halves are whitewashed. The houses usually have two or more stories. The kitchen and living quarters are often located upstairs to keep them free of pollution by stray animals that might wander into the house. Most houses have porches and courtyards where people socialize and do chores such as weaving.
Nepalese children are treated well. Breast-feeding may continue until a child is three years old. There are many rites of passage for children such as the first rice feeding and the first haircut. When they are about eight years old, the children begin doing domestic chores. Girls help care for the younger children, carry food for the animals and haul water. The boys usually tend to the animals.
Typically, women do the bulk of the work in the field. They till the soil, plant, weed and harvest the crops. They also dry, separate and often husk the grain. The main responsibilities for men include plowing, fixing the terraces and irrigating the crops.
There are some Nepalese who live in the urban areas of Myanmar. Even though they are educated, they may only have low-paying jobs. Being foreigners, they are fortunate if they have jobs at all.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Virtually all the Nepalese in Myanmar are Hindus. They also believe in ghosts and demons that haunt the crossroads and rivers. They make offerings to these spirits to appease them.
Hinduism teaches that while the deities appear in separate forms, these forms are part of one universal spirit called Brahman. The most important deities are Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, the destroyer. In Hindu thought, man is not a separate entity, but is a part of Brahman.


What Are Their Needs?

The Nepalese are held captive by spiritual forces that keep them away from the Lord of lords. They need prayer.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will encourage the few known Nepalese who follow Jesus.
Ask God to give these new believers opportunities to share Christ with their own people.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to anoint the gospel as it goes forth via television and radio among the Nepalese.
Pray that God will open the hearts of Myanmar's governmental leaders to the gospel.
Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through intercession.
Pray that strong local churches will be planted among the Nepalese.


Scripture Prayers for the Nepali, general in Myanmar (Burma).


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Nepalese
People Name in Country Nepali, general
Natural Name Nepali
Pronunciation nay-PAH-lee
Alternate Names Eastern Pahari; Gurkha; Gurkhali; Gurung; Nepalese, Eastern; Paharia; नेपलीज़
Population this Country 296,000
Population all Countries 868,000
Total Countries 10
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
People ID 13317
ROP3 Code 107204
ROP25 Code 302886
ROP25 Name Gurkha / Nepali
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 17  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 17  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Map of Nepali, general in Myanmar (Burma) Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
16.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.70 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
79.00 %
Islam
4.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nepali (296,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nepali (296,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2012)
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
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Photo Source travelwayoflife - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024