The Dzala inhabit the highlands along the upper course of the Kholongchu River in the Yangtse District. In 1995, Yangtse was granted administrative status as a fully-fledged district of Bhutan. It was previously a sub-district of Trashigang, and it is often referred to as Trashi-Yangtse.
The Dzala language is also spoken as far west as the Kurichu River in Lhuntse District. The speakers of Dzala in Lhuntse, however, refer to themselves as the Khoma, and to their language as Khomakha. Khomakha has been listed as a dialect of Dzala. 'The villages on the southern slopes overlooking the Khomachu River are also Khomakha speaking.
The part of Bhutan inhabited by the Dzala is extremely poor. Many visitors say it is like stepping back to medieval times. Life is simple and slow-paced. One tourist publication unflatteringly describes the main town of Trashi Yangtse: 'It takes 10 minutes to visit the entire town.... Just north of the chorten is a bazaar area with a few shops. A tall, elaborately decorated Bhutanese-style chorten sits beside a small stream, spanned by a concrete bridge, and doubles as the town's vegetable market. A few eating and drinking shops and a spartan guesthouse mark the end of the town.
Tibetan Buddhism has been the spiritual stronghold over the Dzala people for more than 1,300 years. Buddhism entered Bhutan from Tibet, and visits from lamas and monks from Tibet, India and Nepal maintained and strengthened Buddhism here over the centuries. The Dzala people see their identity and culture as completely intertwined with Buddhism.
Someone would need to go to them with oral materials. There are a few, but enough to get the basic gospel message to the Dzala people.
Pray for loving and dedicated workers to go to the Dzala people until they have strong Christian believers among them.
Pray for them to have the spiritual hunger to seek and find the only savior.
Pray for a soon coming movement to Christ among the Dzala people of Bhutan.
Scripture Prayers for the Dzala in Bhutan.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Dzala |
People Name in Country | Dzala |
Alternate Names | Dzalakha; Dzalamat; Yangtsebikha; द्ज़ला |
Population this Country | 17,000 |
Population all Countries | 17,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19267 |
ROP3 Code | 114868 |
ROP25 Code | 302253 |
ROP25 Name | Dzalakha (Dzala) |
Country | Bhutan | |||
Region | Asia, South | |||
Continent | Asia | |||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||
Persecution Rank | 36 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||
Location in Country | They inhabit the highlands along the upper course of the Kholongchu River in the Yangtse District. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 | |||
Total States on file | 2 | |||
Largest States |
|
Country | Bhutan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 36 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Location in Country | They inhabit the highlands along the upper course of the Kholongchu River in the Yangtse District.. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Total States | 2 |
Eastern 17,000 | |
Western 30 | |
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 | Dzalakha (17,000 speakers) |
Language Code | dzl Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Dzalakha (17,000 speakers) |
Language Code | dzl Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Dzalakha |
Primary Language: Dzalakha
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
General | Language Learning Phrasebook | They Need the Bible |
Photo Source | Galen Frysinger |
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. |