Groma in China

The Groma have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Buddhism (Tibetan)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The cornerstone of emerging Tibetan civilization was the Yarlung Valley area, about 80 kilometers (49 mi.) southeast of Lhasa. There, according to tradition, the union of a monkey and a she-devil created the Tibetan people. Around AD 600, the warrior-king Namri Gampo began the work of unifying the clans of Tibet. It was his son, Songtsen Gampo, who consolidated the empire and established Tibet as a military power to be reckoned with. Sikkim was nominally independent, although always under Indian influence, until it was annexed in 1975 and integrated into India. The Bhots from Tibet began entering Sikkim in the thirteenth century. The Nepalese did not come until the nineteenth century, but now they make up the great majority of Sikkim's population.

We know very little about the Groma. Most anthropological and linguistic sources do not mention them. It is probable that the Groma have been counted as part of the Tibetan nationality in China and may be culturally and ethnically indistinguishable from other Tibetans in the region. The Chinese authorities have included many distinct language groups under the Tibetan nationality, based primarily on their adherence to Tibetan Buddhism.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Groma lead typical Tibetan lives. They herd yaks, sheep, and goats. Groma women do most of the work. The men often spend their days drinking and gambling with their friends.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Tibetan Tantric Buddhism dominates the Groma. Devoted pilgrims often undertake pilgrimages to holy sites (such as Mt. Kailas).

There are no known Christians today among the Groma. The little mission work that has focused on the area invariably resulted in severe persecution. "Converts did not easily forget the Christian convert who was sewn into a fresh yak skin by merciless shaman priests and placed in the broiling sun until the contraction of the skin squeezed the life out of his frame." In 1997 neighboring Sikkim counted 250 churches, but almost all the believers were ethnic Nepalis. The north district where the Groma live is completely unreached.


What Are Their Needs?

Without the guidance of Christ, these people will be lost in this life and the life to come. They need someone to go to them as Christ-bearers.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side.

Pray for loving workers.

Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.

Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Groma in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Groma
People Name in Country Groma
Pronunciation Gro-mah
Alternate Names Bod-pa; Chomo; Chomo Tibetan; Chumbi Tibetan; Chuo-mu Tibetan; Gromo; Hhomo; Spiti; Tomo; Trowoma; Zhuomu Tibetan; ग्रॉंा
Population this Country 19,000
Population all Countries 19,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11946
ROP3 Code 103488
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The Ethnologue cites a 1993 source stating that there are 12,840 speakers of Groma living in southern Tibet, in the Chambi Valley between Bhutan and the former independent nation of Sikkim - now a state of India. The Chambi Valley is in the middle of the mighty Himalayan range. Himalaya means "abode of snow." A French Catholic missionary to Tibet, Monsieur L'Abbe Desgondins, graphically described the region: "Take a piece of paper in your hand. Crumple it up and then open your hand and let it fall out! Nothing is flat - all you have is high points and low depressions - the steep, inaccessible, rugged mountains and the deep valleys." An additional 14,000 Groma are reported to be living on the Indian side of the border.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country The Ethnologue cites a 1993 source stating that there are 12,840 speakers of Groma living in southern Tibet, in the Chambi Valley between Bhutan and the former independent nation of Sikkim - now a state of India. The Chambi Valley is in the middle of the mighty Himalayan range. Himalaya means "abode of snow." A French Catholic missionary to Tibet, Monsieur L'Abbe Desgondins, graphically described the region: "Take a piece of paper in your hand. Crumple it up and then open your hand and let it fall out! Nothing is flat - all you have is high points and low depressions - the steep, inaccessible, rugged mountains and the deep valleys." An additional 14,000 Groma are reported to be living on the Indian side of the border..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Groma in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism (Tibetan)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
99.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
1.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Groma
Language Code gro   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Groma
Language Code gro   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Groma

Primary Language:  Groma

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: SIL / WLMS. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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