Sherpa people
ཤར་པ། shar pa | |
|---|---|
Young Sherpas in traditional attire at West Bengal Sherpa Cultural Board | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Nepal | 250,637 |
| India | 65,000 (above) |
| Bhutan | 10,700 |
| United States | 16,800 |
| China | 2,000 |
| Languages | |
| Sherpa, Tibetan, Nepali | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Buddhism (93%) and minority: Christianity Bön | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tibetans, Tamang, Rai, Hyolmo, Jirels, and other Tibeto-Burman groups | |
The Sherpa people (Standard Tibetan: ཤར་པ།, romanized: shar pa) are one of the Nepalese ethnic groups native to the most mountainous regions of Nepal, India, and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China.
The majority of Sherpas live in the eastern regions of Nepal, namely the Solukhumbu (Khumbu and Pharak), Khatra, Kama, Rolwaling and Barun Valley. Although, some live north of Kathmandu, Nepal in the Bigu and Helambu regions. They can also be found in Tingri County, Bhutan, the Indian states of Sikkim, and northern portions of West Bengal, specifically the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.
In these regions, Sherpas establish monasteries called gompas where they practice their local traditions. Tengboche was the first celibate monastery in Solu-Khumbu.
The Sherpa language belongs to the southern branch of the Tibeto-Burman languages, mixed with Eastern Tibetan (Khams Tibetan) and central Tibetan dialects. However, this language is separate from Lhasa Tibetan and is unintelligible to Lhasa speakers.
Sherpa migration has significantly increased in recent years, especially in the United States. New York City has the largest Sherpa community with a population of approximately 16,000 people. Contrastingly, the 2011 Nepal census recorded 512,946 Sherpas within its borders.
Members of the Sherpa nation are known for their skills in mountaineering as a livelihood.