Layakha in Bhutan

The Layakha 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

There are approximately 3,400 people living in the northwestern village of Laya. They take their name from the village in which they live, Laya, and call themselves Layaps, but they are better known as Layakha. The languages spoken in Laya are Layakha and Dzongkha. According to legend, the village in which they live was the spot the founder of Bhutan first entered the country.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Layaps are mainly crop and yak farmers. They rely heavily on the yaks in order to make cheese, butter, meat, tea, and clothing, which form a heavy part of their diet. The village of Laya is the highest in all of Bhutan and as a result attracts tourists from around the world.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Layaps are entirely Buddhist and practice the tradition of shunning individuals who are deemed a living defilement so as to not anger the gods. Though they are officially Buddhists, the Layakha people practice traditional animistic religion. In animism, evil spirits must be appeased through prayers, sacrifices and rituals. Buddhism allows people to mix Buddhist teachings with traditional religion.


What Are Their Needs?

The Layakha need to submit to Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life He offers them in John 10:10.


Prayer Points

Ask God to send messengers of the gospel to Laya in order to tell the Layakha people about Jesus Christ and his love, forgiveness and grace for them.
Ask God to dramatically open the eyes of the people of Laya to the beauty and splendor of creation all around them and to give them a dissatisfaction and lack of peace in their traditional beliefs. May He reveal to them the majesty of Jesus Christ.
Pray for Layakha elders to throw open the door to the gospel spreading in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Layakha in Bhutan.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Layakha
People Name in Country Layakha
Alternate Names लायखा
Population this Country 3,600
Population all Countries 3,600
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 19657
ROP3 Code 115328
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 North Punakha District, around Laya; Gasa District; Thimphu District, Lingzhi gewog   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Total States on file 2
Largest States
Central
3,300
Western
200
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 North Punakha District, around Laya; Gasa District; Thimphu District, Lingzhi gewog.   Source:  Ethnologue 2010
Total States 2
  Central 3,300
  Western 200
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 Layakha (3,600 speakers)
Language Code lya   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Layakha (3,600 speakers)
Language Code lya   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Layakha

Primary Language:  Layakha

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
None reported  
Photo Source Anonymous 
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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