Helambu Sherpa in Nepal

The Helambu Sherpa have only been reported in Nepal
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Although they practice Buddhism, the Helambu Sherpa live in the only official Hindu state in the world: Nepal. This small nation is landlocked between India and Tibet, and the Helambu Sherpa live in the south central portion of the country.

The Helambu Sherpa migrated from Tibet to Nepal in the 15th century in order to flee religious persecution. At that time, a Mongol King attempted to force them to convert to his sect of Buddhism. The people fled to the Khumbu region, and later moved further into the Helambu region.

The language of the Helambu Sherpa is very similar to Tibetan, and they can still communicate in a simple form of Tibetan. They are distinguishable from Tibetans in part because their faces are smaller and they wear a colorful apron on their backside rather than the front.

The name Sherpa means "people from the East." They received this name from landlords whom they served.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Tourism has grown in importance in Nepal since the 1960s. Kathmandu, the capital city, attracts visitors because of its many picturesque temples. Such temples are characteristic of Buddhist art and architecture. A growing number of hikers and mountain climbers are using Kathmandu as a major base for expeditions to Mount Everest, and for hiking tours in the Himalayas. This has provided the Helambu Sherpa with their main source of income. Every house along the trail has become a lodge crowded with weary trekkers each day as evening approaches. The women serve as shopkeepers, cooks, and hostesses. The men also cook, clean, and keep the visitors happy.

Apart from serving the tourists, the Helambu Sherpa are farmers. They grow primarily potatoes and corn, and buy their rice from the valley areas. Their staple food consists of jhamba (porridge). Their main drink, raksi, is a local brandy made from wheat.

Most Helambu Sherpa live in two-story homes built with stones, concrete blocks, and wood. Their villages are on the lush foothills of the Himalayan mountains. However, because of the tourism industry, Western culture has influenced many of the Helambu Sherpa villages.

Along with the colorful aprons, the women wear wrapped dresses called bhokkus, which are ankle-length. The men wear bhokkus that come only to their knees with suruwals (tight-fitting, warm trousers) underneath. The men also like to wear thick sheep-skin jackets.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the Helambu Sherpa are Buddhists. Every home has a decorated corner set aside for their gods. High places are often areas of worship. There, flags with prayers written on them are hung in hopes that some god may hear their pleas.

Colorful festivals are abundant, each one devoted to obtaining favor with a different god. The mild face of the Buddha occupies every Helambu Sherpa altar.

One festival, Gyawa, takes place 49 days after the death of a loved-one. The people gather to eat as much as possible during the festival, believing the food will go toward nourishing the loved one who has died.


What Are Their Needs?

The Helambu Sherpa are easy going and relaxed. Most eat well and usually have reasonably clean water from the mountains. Despite the outward peace, however, there are signs that their culture is unraveling. Alcohol and greed seem to permeate the social fabric.

A large number of Helambu Sherpa live in Kathmandu for part of the year, which makes them available to hear the Gospel. However, though many have an awareness of Christianity, there are only a handful of known believers among them. These few stand alone as Gospel witnesses to their people. The Helambu Sherpa of Nepal have little or no opportunity to know Jesus Christ as their Lord.


Prayer Points

Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Nepal and share Christ with the Helambu Sherpa.
Ask God to strengthen, encourage, and protect the few Helambu Sherpa Christians.
Ask the Lord to remember His blood sacrifice for the Helambu Sherpa, and to draw them to Himself with loving-kindness.
Ask the Holy Spirit to prepare the hearts of the Helambu Sherpa to receive the Gospel and soften their hearts toward Christians.
Pray that God will open the hearts of Nepal's governmental leaders to the Gospel.
Ask the Lord to raise up a strong local church among the Helambu Sherpa.


Scripture Prayers for the Sherpa Helambu in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Bethany World Prayer Center  

People Name General Sherpa Helambu
People Name in Country Sherpa Helambu
Natural Name Helambu Sherpa
Pronunciation hel-am-BOO Sher-pah
Alternate Names Helambu; Helambu Sherpa; Serwa; Sharpa; Sharpa Bhotia; Xiaerba; Xiarba; Yohimu Tam; Yohimu Tarn; Yolmo; शेरपा, हेलंबू
Population this Country 2,900
Population all Countries 2,900
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 12081
ROP3 Code 103752
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Approximately 15,000 Helambu Sherpa people live in the Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok districts of the Bagmati Zone in central Nepal. A sizable community of Helambu Sherpa also lives in the nation's capital, Kathmandu.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Approximately 15,000 Helambu Sherpa people live in the Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok districts of the Bagmati Zone in central Nepal. A sizable community of Helambu Sherpa also lives in the nation's capital, Kathmandu..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States 1
  Bagmati 2,900
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
97.04 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.38 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
1.58 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hyolmo (2,400 speakers)
Language Code scp   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Nepali
100
Primary Language Hyolmo (2,400 speakers)
Language Code scp   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Nepali 100
People Groups Speaking Hyolmo

Primary Language:  Hyolmo

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2002)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2000-2022)
Bible-Complete No
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
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Hyolmo YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Hyolmo YouVersion Bibles
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Bethany World Prayer Center 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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