Tamang in Nepal


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Subgroups: 18 (10 largest shown)  Show all

Subgroup Name Population
Lasa 1,600
Bal 300
Bomyan 300
Bopchan 300
Domjan 300
Dong 300
Grongder 300
Gyapole 300
Jhimpa 300
Lopchan 300

Introduction / History

The name Tamang means "horse trader." They were involved with a long war with their rivals, the Gurkhas, who eventually defeated them. The Tamangs once had forced labor obligations. Their land was divided by clan. They have about 100 clans. Most of the Tamang live in Nepal or India, but there are smaller numbers of them in Bangladesh and Bhutan. Most of the Tamang live in Nepal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are generally very poor, yet they enjoy festivals, music and cultural events. They have their own song and dance style called Tamang Selo. These songs can be about sorrow, humor, joy or satire. Their main festival is Sonam Lhochhar. It welcomes the new year in February or March.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Tamang follow Tibetan Buddhism but mix this heavily with animism and to a lesser extent, with Hinduism. Their priests, or lamas, have a dominant role in the community and perform ceremonies for funerals, etc. Perhaps the most powerful person in society, however, is the shaman, who exorcises demons and interacts with the spirit world.


What Are Their Needs?

The area is more open to outsiders than it has been in previous times, but there is still some difficulty in entering. The smaller Tamang group in India has a significant number of Christian believers. Perhaps these followers of Christ will see the need to carry the gospel to the remainder of their own people in Nepal.


Prayer Points

There are some followers of Jesus today among the Tamang of Nepal. Pray for these people to be good ambassadors for Christ in Nepal.
Pray they will seek each other out to fellowship together.
Pray they will be zealous to know Christ and follow his ways.
Pray for the entire Tamang community to be able to care well for their families, to find ways to generate income and meet basic needs.


Scripture Prayers for the Tamang in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tamang
People Name in Country Tamang
Alternate Names Eastern Tamang; Ishang; Lama; Murmi; Nishang; Nishung; Tamanglama; तमंग
Population this Country 1,779,000
Population all Countries 2,064,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 18212
ROP3 Code 102861
ROP25 Code 307900
ROP25 Name Tamang
Affinity Bloc South Asian Peoples
People Cluster South Asia Buddhist
People Group Tamang
Ethnic Code CNN25
Total Subgroups 18 (only 15 largest shown)
  Lasa 1,600
  Bal 300
  Bomyan 300
  Bopchan 300
  Domjan 300
  Dong 300
  Grongder 300
  Gyapole 300
  Jhimpa 300
  Lopchan 300
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Bagmati
847,000
Narayani
345,000
Janakpur
242,000
Kosi
107,000
Sagarmatha
75,000
Mechi
73,000
Gandaki
51,000
Karnali
15,000
Lumbini
10,000
Seti
4,000
Bheri
3,700
Mahakali
3,600
Dhaulagiri
1,900
Rapti
1,100
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 14
  Bagmati 847,000
  Narayani 345,000
  Janakpur 242,000
  Kosi 107,000
  Sagarmatha 75,000
  Mechi 73,000
  Gandaki 51,000
  Karnali 15,000
  Lumbini 10,000
  Seti 4,000
  Bheri 3,700
  Mahakali 3,600
  Dhaulagiri 1,900
  Rapti 1,100
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
81.95 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
6.60 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
10.81 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.53 %
Unknown
0.11 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Tamang, Eastern (823,000 speakers)
Language Code taj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 30
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Tamang, Western
406,000
Nepali
165,000
Tamang, Eastern Gorkha
121,000
Sherpa
3,300
Bantawa
3,200
Lepcha
1,900
Bhojpuri
1,900
Maithili
1,500
Chamling
1,300
Wambule
900
Sampang
800
Musasa
700
Kham, Western Parbate
500
Dotyali
400
Humla
400
Primary Language Tamang, Eastern (823,000 speakers)
Language Code taj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 30
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Tamang, Western 406,000
  Nepali 165,000
  Tamang, Eastern Gorkha 121,000
  Sherpa 3,300
  Bantawa 3,200
  Lepcha 1,900
  Bhojpuri 1,900
  Maithili 1,500
  Chamling 1,300
  Wambule 900
  Sampang 800
  Musasa 700
  Kham, Western Parbate 500
  Dotyali 400
  Humla 400
People Groups Speaking Tamang, Eastern
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  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.



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