Yakthumba Limbu (Nepal)
The Limbu or “Yakthumba” people of Nepal are one of the largest tribal groups in Nepal (387,000 people). They are descendants of Mongolians and some of the earliest migrants into Nepal. Although they have been influenced by Tibetan Buddhists (and may call themselves Buddhists), they participate in many popular Hindu festivals, possibly due to the fact that many of the ancestral areas of the Limbu have been politically taken over by high-cast Hindu Brahmins. Being able to read and write, these more recent migrants have marginalized the Yakthumba Limbu, causing their standard of living to fall and making it hard for them to have access to community benefits such as commerce and land acquisition.
Although there is a small evangelical Christian community and New Testament “portions” are available, these believers have little influence in the community. Mixed in with Buddhist beliefs and Hindu superstitions, the Limbu also have their own animist beliefs that further keep them from Christianity. They believe a married woman inherits her mothers household gods. She takes these idols into her marriage. She and her husband both look to these false deities for blessing and protection.
The man in this video is practicing traditional Limbu offerings.
The Opportunity: A gospel booklet that explains the beginnings of Biblical faith has been translated into the mother tongue of the Yakthumba Limbu people. This tool could create an open door for the small Christian community to win a hearing with the local people because it is in their own mother tongue. Pray for the Yakthumba Limbu to be delivered from these false beliefs.
Header image sourced from Wikiwand.
