Thakali in Nepal


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

Introduction / History

The Thakali primarily inhabit the Thak Sat Soe area in Thak Khola in the southern part of the Mustang District. Mustang is located within the Dhawalagiri Zone of northcentral Nepal. Others have spread out into the 'Myagdi, Baglung, Parbat, Kaski, Gulmi, Syangja, Palpa and Rupendehi districts. The thirteen major Thakali villages are spread on the western bank of the Kali Gandaki Gorge through which flows the Kali River.' The Thakali region is spectacular, flanked by the massive Annapurna Himal and the Dhawalagiri Himal, with peaks rising to 8,090 meters (26,535 ft.).
There are four major clan divisions among the Thakali: Chhyoki, Salki, Dhimchen and Bhurki.
Though most live in Nepal, there are some in northern India as well.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Thakali men traditionally obtain their brides by abducting a girl when she is gathering wood in the forest or fetching water from a stream. She is taken back to the boy's home for several days, after which notification is sent to the girl's parents, bidding them to agree to the marriage.
For centuries the Thakali dominated the salt trade of western and central Nepal, trading southward into India and northward into Tibet. This has made them one of the wealthiest groups in Nepal today. Although the Thakali language is part of the Tibeto-Burman language family, they are making a 'conscious effort to dilute their Bhotia [Tibetan] connection. The trend is towards identification with Hindu castes or better-known ethnic groups. '
The present transition of the Thakali culture is also seen in their religion. 'Thak Khola is in the zone where Tibetan cultural influences from the north encounter Hindu cultural influences from the south. Thus, a mixture of native cultural elements and elements brought in and assimilated from the outside can be witnessed.


What Are Their Beliefs?

This syncretism is above all reflected in religion, which is here a combination of animistic, pre-Buddhistic elements joined with Buddhist and Hindu ones. Adherents of Catholicism are now found among the migrated Thakalis and some Thakalis in Kathmandu call themselves atheists.'


What Are Their Needs?

Although the Thakali have been coming under many influences in recent years, Christianity has not been one of them. They remain unreached with the gospel that can liberate them from sin and death.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Thakali people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.
Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Thakali people to change their society from within.
Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers disciples to make more disciples.
Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Thakali communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Thakali in Nepal.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Thakali
People Name in Country Thakali
Alternate Names Tapaang; Thaksya; Thakuri; तकली
Population this Country 13,000
Population all Countries 15,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 18235
ROP3 Code 113764
ROP25 Code 308103
ROP25 Name Thakali
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country They primarily inhabit the Thak sat Soe area in Thak Khola in the southern part of the Mustang District. Others have spread out into the Myagdi, Bablung, Parbat, Kaski, Gulmi, Syangja, Palpa and Rupendehi districts. The 13 major Thakali villages are spread on the western bank of the Kali Gandaki Gorge.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Bagmati
3,500
Dhaulagiri
3,100
Gandaki
2,700
Lumbini
1,700
Narayani
500
Rapti
400
Seti
300
Karnali
300
Kosi
200
Mechi
200
Janakpur
200
Bheri
100
Sagarmatha
80
Mahakali
10
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country They primarily inhabit the Thak sat Soe area in Thak Khola in the southern part of the Mustang District. Others have spread out into the Myagdi, Bablung, Parbat, Kaski, Gulmi, Syangja, Palpa and Rupendehi districts. The 13 major Thakali villages are spread on the western bank of the Kali Gandaki Gorge..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Total States 14
  Bagmati 3,500
  Dhaulagiri 3,100
  Gandaki 2,700
  Lumbini 1,700
  Narayani 500
  Rapti 400
  Seti 300
  Karnali 300
  Kosi 200
  Mechi 200
  Janakpur 200
  Bheri 100
  Sagarmatha 80
  Mahakali 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
46.75 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
4.41 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
48.83 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nepali (7,500 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
Thakali
4,200
Dotyali
40
Lhowa
20
Primary Language Nepali (7,500 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 4
Secondary Languages
  Thakali 4,200
  Dotyali 40
  Lhowa 20
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2012)
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YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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Amazon
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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