Traditionally the Khambu people (aka, Rai) were nature worshippers. They worshipped objects of nature such as trees, rivers, and animals, but they also worshipped their ancestors. Later Hinduism was forced upon them by outsiders.
The Khambu people live in three countries. Most are either in India or Nepal and a small number live in Bhutan.
Living in a mountainous part of the world, the Khambu people are isolated from the rest of the world. Farming is necessary, but it is very difficult. Like the peoples around them, the Khambu people in India depend on their livestock for milk and meat.
Today the Khambu people in India are mainly Hindu, though those in Buddhist Bhutan include Buddhist elements in their worship.
The Khambu people need help making more than a bare-bones living in their mountainous homeland. Better schools would help.
Pray for spiritual openness and a desire for relationship with a holy, righteous God.
Pray for the opportunity to hear of the finished work of Christ in Khambu communities.
Pray that despite their remote mountainous location that believers will take them the gospel and many will be willing to be discipled in the ways of Jesus Christ.
Scripture Prayers for the Khambu in India.
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17148/IN
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17148/NP
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rai_people
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Khambu |
People Name in Country | Khambu |
Alternate Names | Janiar; खंबू |
Population this Country | 375,000 |
Population all Countries | 377,000 |
Total Countries | 3 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | No |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 7 |
People ID | 17148 |
ROP3 Code | 112497 |
Country | India | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||
Total States on file | 5 | ||||||
Largest States |
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Districts | Interactive map, listing and data download | ||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 11 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 5 |
West Bengal 272,000 | |
Sikkim 96,000 | |
Andaman and Nicobar 600 | |
Meghalaya 400 | |
Delhi 200 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
3.21 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
4.23 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
92.38 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.18 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Bengali (181,000 speakers) | |||||||||
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||
Total Languages | 8 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bengali (181,000 speakers) |
Language Code | ben Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 8 |
Secondary Languages | |
Nepali 91,000 | |
Hindi 61,000 | |
Assamese 400 | |
Kharia 200 | |
Kurux 200 | |
Mundari 100 | |
Santhali 80 | |
People Groups | Speaking Bengali |
Primary Language: Bengali
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1800-1980) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1801-1984) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1809-2022) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Rachhenhang Rai - Wikimedia Creative Commons |
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. |