Dzala in Bhutan

The Dzala have only been reported in Bhutan
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

The Dzala inhabit the highlands along the upper course of the Kholongchu River in the Yangtse District. In 1995, Yangtse was granted administrative status as a fully-fledged district of Bhutan. It was previously a sub-district of Trashigang, and it is often referred to as Trashi-Yangtse.
The Dzala language is also spoken as far west as the Kurichu River in Lhuntse District. The speakers of Dzala in Lhuntse, however, refer to themselves as the Khoma, and to their language as Khomakha. Khomakha has been listed as a dialect of Dzala. 'The villages on the southern slopes overlooking the Khomachu River are also Khomakha speaking.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The part of Bhutan inhabited by the Dzala is extremely poor. Many visitors say it is like stepping back to medieval times. Life is simple and slow-paced. One tourist publication unflatteringly describes the main town of Trashi Yangtse: 'It takes 10 minutes to visit the entire town.... Just north of the chorten is a bazaar area with a few shops. A tall, elaborately decorated Bhutanese-style chorten sits beside a small stream, spanned by a concrete bridge, and doubles as the town's vegetable market. A few eating and drinking shops and a spartan guesthouse mark the end of the town.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Tibetan Buddhism has been the spiritual stronghold over the Dzala people for more than 1,300 years. Buddhism entered Bhutan from Tibet, and visits from lamas and monks from Tibet, India and Nepal maintained and strengthened Buddhism here over the centuries. The Dzala people see their identity and culture as completely intertwined with Buddhism.


What Are Their Needs?

Someone would need to go to them with oral materials. There are a few, but enough to get the basic gospel message to the Dzala people.


Prayer Points

Pray for loving and dedicated workers to go to the Dzala people until they have strong Christian believers among them.
Pray for them to have the spiritual hunger to seek and find the only savior.
Pray for a soon coming movement to Christ among the Dzala people of Bhutan.


Scripture Prayers for the Dzala in Bhutan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dzala
People Name in Country Dzala
Alternate Names Dzalakha; Dzalamat; Yangtsebikha; द्‍ज़ला
Population this Country 17,000
Population all Countries 17,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 19267
ROP3 Code 114868
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country They inhabit the highlands along the upper course of the Kholongchu River in the Yangtse District.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Eastern
17,000
Western
30
Country Bhutan
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 36  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country They inhabit the highlands along the upper course of the Kholongchu River in the Yangtse District..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States 2
  Eastern 17,000
  Western 30
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 Dzalakha (17,000 speakers)
Language Code dzl   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Dzalakha (17,000 speakers)
Language Code dzl   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Dzalakha

Primary Language:  Dzalakha

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
General Language Learning Phrasebook They Need the Bible
Photo Source Galen Frysinger 
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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