Groma April 1 Location: The Ethnologue History: The cornerstone of goats. Groma women do cites a 1993 source stating emerging Tibetan civilization most of the work. The men TIBET that there are 12,840 was the Yarlung Valley area, often spend their days •Lhasa speakers of Groma living in about 80 kilometers (49 drinking and gambling with 1 •Gyirong •Xigaze southern Tibet, in the mi.) southeast of Lhasa. their friends. Cona • Chambi Valley between There, according to NEPAL BHUTAN Bhutan and the former tradition, the union of a Religion: Tibetan Tantric Scale 0 KM 160 independent nation of monkey and a she-devil Buddhism dominates the Sikkim — now a state of created the Tibetan race. Groma. Pilgrimages to holy Population in China: 12,840 (1993) India. The Chambi Valley is Around AD 600, the warrior- sites (such as Mt. Kailas) 14,920 (2000) in the middle of the mighty king Namri Gampo began are often undertaken by 18,390 (2010) Himalayan range. Himalaya the work of unifying the devoted pilgrims. Location: Tibet means “abode of snow.” A clans of Tibet. It was his Religion: Tibetan Buddhism Christians: None Known French Catholic missionary son, Songtsen Gampo, who Christianity: There are no to Tibet, Monsieur L’Abbé consolidated the empire and known Christians today Desgondins, graphically established Tibet as a among the Groma. The little Overview of the described the region: “Take military power to be mission work that has Groma a piece of paper in your reckoned with. Sikkim was targeted the area invariably Countries: India, China hand. Crumple it up and nominally independent — resulted in severe Pronunciation: “Gro-mah” then open your hand and let although always under persecution. “Converts did Other Names: Tromowa, Chomo it fall out! Nothing is flat — Indian influence — until it not easily forget the Tibetan, Chomo, Gromo, Tomo, Zhuomu Tibetan, Chuo-mu all you have is high points was annexed in 1975 and Christian convert who was Tibetan, Chumbi Tibetan and low depressions — the integrated into India. The sewn into a fresh yak skin Population Source: 12,840 steep, inaccessible, rugged Bhots from Tibet began by merciless shaman priests (1996 B. Grimes – 1993 figure); 14,000 in India mountains and the deep entering Sikkim in the and placed in the broiling 2 (1995 Joshua Project) valleys.” An additional thirteenth century. The sun until the contraction of Location: S Tibet: Chomo 14,000 Groma are reported Nepalese did not come until the skin squeezed the life (Yadong) County in Xigaze to be living on the Indian the nineteenth century, but out of his frame.”6 In 1997 Prefecture side of the border.3 now they make up 75% of neighboring Sikkim counted Status: Probably officially 5 included under Tibetan Sikkim’s population. 250 churches, but almost Language: Sino-Tibetan, Identity: Little is known all the believers were ethnic Tibeto-Burman, Bodic, Bodish, about the Groma. Most Customs: The Groma lead Nepalis. The north district Tibetan, Southern Tibetan anthropological and typical Tibetan lives. They where the Groma live is Dialects (4): Upper Groma, linguistic sources do not herd yaks, sheep, and completely unreached.7 Lower Groma, Spiti, Tomo mention them. It is probable Religion: Tibetan Buddhism, Animism that the Groma have been Christians: None known counted as part of the Scripture: None Tibetan nationality in China Jesus film: None and may be culturally and Gospel Recordings: None ethnically indistinguishable Christian Broadcasting: None from other Tibetans in the ROPAL code: GRO00 region. The Chinese authorities have included many distinct language Status of Evangelization groups under the Tibetan nationality, based primarily 87% on their adherence to Tibetan Buddhism. 13% Language: The Groma 0% language is a member of the Southern Tibetan A B C language branch. It has two A = Have never heard the gospel dialects, Upper and Lower B = Were evangelized but did not become Christians Groma, with two others, C = Are adherents to any form of Spiti and Tomo, listed as Christianity “possible dialects or related languages.”4 Paul Hattaway GROMA 161.