Introduction / History

The Tibetan Bhotia are among the most complicated Buddhist groups. This is a generic term for several groups of people inhabiting the ranges along the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. The Indian government has granted scheduled tribe status to the Bhotia tribe.

The term Bhotia comes from Bhot, or Bod, the traditional name for people of Tibetan origin. The groups combined by the Indian authorities include many different ethnicities and languages, ranging from Jammu and Kashmir in north-west India all the way across to Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India. They live in hilly terrain, of high altitude and cold climate, where there is high rainfall with medium snowfall and high humidity with dense forests. A migrant community has moved down into the Darjeeling District of West Bengal.

What Are Their Lives Like?

People from all different communities come together to celebrate Buddhist festivals and holidays, which creates good unity and relationships between them.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Being of Tibetan origin, it is not surprising that the Bhotia people strongly believe in Tibetan Buddhism. This is a form of Buddhism which is blended with bon, a form of shamanism involving the occult worship and practices.

What Are Their Needs?

Sikkimese Christians live inside Sikkim, while others live in the heavily-evangelized Darjeeling area in West Bengal. Some of those who have decided to follow Christ have been excommunicated from their villages. They can be used of God to reach the Bhotia people.

Prayer Items

Pray for them to understand and respond to Christ as the only answer for their spiritual needs.
Pray God will have mercy on the Tibetan Bhotia doing whatever it takes to place them in a position to receive him.
Ask God to open the hearts of the Tibetan Bhotia to the gospel.
Pray for an unstoppable movement to Christ among them.

Scripture Prayers for the Bhotia Tibetan in India.

References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission