Chali in Bhutan

The Chali have only been reported in Bhutan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest Bhutan census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Identity

More than one thousand people belonging to the Chali ethnic group live in eastern Bhutan, the landlocked, mysterious Buddhist Himalayan kingdom. They inhabit a few villages in the Mongar (also spelled Monggar and Mongaa) District.

The linguist George van Driem has provided an extremely detailed description of where the Chali language is spoken. 'The Chali language is limited to a small area north of Mongar on the east bank of the Kurichu. At the southern end, the Chali speaking area proper begins north of Mongar at the Gangg 'o La, which is just five kilometers [three miles] south of the village of Chali itself. The Chali speaking villages are Chali and neighboring Wangmakhar. The language is also spoken in the tiny hamlets surrounding these two villages. In the west, the Chali speaking area is bound by the Kurichu and in the north by the Threwenchu, a lateral tributary of the Kurichu. The easternmost Chali speaking hamlet is G 'ortshom up on the ridge above Chali village. Outside of the Chali area proper, in the immediate vicinity of Tormazhong village in the Chocangacakha speaking area north of the Threwenchu, approximately one third of the households are also reported to be Chali speaking. '


Customs

Mongar is a small, nondescript town with a population of about 1,500 people. It sits on the top of a ridge and is protected from the wind by a row of large eucalyptus trees. Mongar proudly boasts one bank, a hospital and a post office. It also has a small Buddhist monastery, housing fifty or sixty monks, some of whom are young boys not yet in their teens. Although the town itself is of minor interest to visitors, the area has strikingly beautiful scenery, as does most of Bhutan.

The Chali language is different from all other Eastern Tibetan varieties spoken in Bhutan. One source notes, 'The Chali area is bound to the north and west by the Chocangacakha speaking area, and to the south and east by the Tsangla speaking area. Chali has a massive component of loan vocabulary resulting from its location at the crossroads of Tsangla and Chocangacakha speaking areas as well as from historical circumstances. '


Religion

Tibetan Buddhism has been the dominant religion in Bhutan since its reported introduction in AD 746, when 'Sendha Gyab, the king of Bumthang, had a conflict with another Indian king in the south of Bhutan. As a result of this dispute, Sendha Gyab became possessed by a demon, and it required a powerful tantric master to exorcise it. The greatest master was the teacher Padmasambhava, better known as Guru Rimpoche (precious master). After an extended process involving trickery and magic dances, the guru captured the demon and converted it to Buddhism. For good measure, he also converted the king and his rival, restoring the country to peace. The first visit of Guru Rimpoche to Bumthang is recognized as the true introduction of Buddhism to Bhutan. '


Christianity

There are no known Christians among the Chali people. Few have ever heard the gospel in a meaningful manner.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Chali in Bhutan.


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

Additional Info
Global Prayer Digest: 2018-08-05
People Name General Chali
People Name in Country Chali
Alternate Names Chalikha; Chalipkha; Tshali; Tshalingpa; चली
Population this Country 1,800
Population all Countries 1,800
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 18909
ROP3 Code 114869
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 40  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country They inhabit a few villages in the Mongar District....The Chali speaking villages are Chali and neighboring Wangmakhar.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Eastern
1,800
Western
20
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 40  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country They inhabit a few villages in the Mongar District....The Chali speaking villages are Chali and neighboring Wangmakhar..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States 2
  Eastern 1,800
  Western 20
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 Chalikha (1,800 speakers)
Language Code tgf   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chalikha (1,800 speakers)
Language Code tgf   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chalikha

Primary Language:  Chalikha

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2023  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 Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.