Monpa Tawang in India

People Name:	Monpa Tawang
Country:	India
10/40 Window:	Yes
Population:	8,000
World Population:	53,000
Primary Language:	Monpa, Tawang
Primary Religion:	Buddhism
Christian Adherents:	0.39 %
Evangelicals:	0.00 %
Scripture:	Unspecified
Ministry Resources:	No
Jesus Film:	No
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	South Asia Tribal - other
Affinity Bloc:	South Asian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

The Tawang Monpa are different from other Monpa groups in terms of both language and culture. They are one of the largest Monpa groups in India and, due to their proximity to the large town of Tawang, one of the most influential. Tawang is strategically located a short distance from the meeting of the borders of the three nations of India, China and Bhutan. The Tawang Monpa are named after their town, which in turn is named after the Tawang Monastery located there. This tribe lives in the secluded state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India.

What Are Their Lives Like?

In recent years Arunachal Pradesh has opened to foreign tourism, and visitors from all around the world come to Tawang, though only in small numbers. Many major festivals and Buddhist ceremonies are held in Tawang, and visitors come from all parts of the state to participate.

The diet of the Tawang Monpa is varied. They consume pulses, vegetables and bung chung (local beer brewed from maize, rice, millet, wheat or buckwheat). They enjoy milk products. The Tawang Monpa eat fish, beef, pork, mutton, and the meat of fowl and yak. They also eat venison and the flesh of wild boar. For fruit they eat oranges, peaches, pomegranates, apples and sugarcane.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Tawang is the spiritual center of the area and home to several important Buddhist monasteries, including the Tawang Monastery, where they hold many festivities and traditional dances every year. Other important Buddhist landmarks include the 460-year-old Urgelling Monastery, which was the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama; the Rigyalling Monastery; and the more distant Taktsang Monastery.

In recent decades a few Tawang Monpa individuals, mostly young people, have believed in Jesus Christ. They immediately faced strong pressure from their families and communities to renounce their new faith. Some did, but others counted the cost and continue to follow Christ as Lord. The Christians who brought the gospel to Tawang have been persecuted.

What Are Their Needs?

These people need to realize that they cannot please God without being empowered by the Holy Spirit. They cannot have the Holy Spirit without Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Tawang Monpa communities.

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Tawang Monpa.

Pray for the Tawang Monpa people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.

Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Tawang Monpa people to change their society from within.

Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers disciples to make more disciples.