The Matpa people are concentrated in the lower areas of Mongar District in eastern Bhutan. Their two largest villages are Tsamang and Tsakaling. Several Matpa villages are also located within the Lhuntse District further to the north, especially in and around the village of Kurmet. They have also been listed by their language name, Chocangacakha, which is closely related to Dzongkha, Bhutan's national language spoken by the Drukpa people.
The importance of Tibetan Buddhism and the unity that it fosters are best seen among the Matpa people during festivals and ceremonies. The whole community attends, dressed in their festive best. Participants wear gruesome masks depicting powerful demons, and stories are told of how the Buddhist sage Padmasambhava defeated demonic forces with the truth of Buddhism.
All Matpa people are followers of Tibetan Buddhism.
Being an official Buddhist kingdom, Bhutan has been largely locked away from the influence of the gospel for centuries until recent decades, when migrants from Nepal and India have brought Christianity into the country for the first time on any significant scale. The Buddhist groups, however, have remained largely untouched by the gospel. They see Christianity as a foreign religion with little relevance to their lives. Others see Christianity as a threat to traditional Bhutanese values and culture.
Pray for the Lord to pave the way for gospel outreach among the Matpa people.
Pray for long term workers who will produce gospel materials in their language.
Pray for many to be drawn to the King of kings.
Scripture Prayers for the Matpa in Bhutan.
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Matpa |
People Name in Country | Matpa |
Alternate Names | Chocangacakha; Cocangacakha; Kursmadkha; Maphekha; Rtsamangpa'ikha; Tsamangpakha; मतपा |
Population this Country | 21,000 |
Population all Countries | 21,000 |
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 | 19268 |
ROP3 Code | 115324 |
ROP25 Code | 305275 |
ROP25 Name | Matpa |
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 are concentrated in the lower areas of Mongar District in eastern Bhutan. Their two largest villages are Tsamang and Tsakaling. A number of Matpa villages are also located within the Lhuntse District further to the north. 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 are concentrated in the lower areas of Mongar District in eastern Bhutan. Their two largest villages are Tsamang and Tsakaling. A number of Matpa villages are also located within the Lhuntse District further to the north.. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Total States | 2 |
Eastern 19,000 | |
Western 2,000 | |
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 | Chocangacakha (21,000 speakers) |
Language Code | cgk Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Chocangacakha (21,000 speakers) |
Language Code | cgk Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Chocangacakha |
Primary Language: Chocangacakha
Bible Translation Status: Unspecified
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name | Source |
---|---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching | Global Recordings Network |
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2024 Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest 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. |