Indigenous Religions in the Eastern Himalayas: Spirit Worship and Healing

Abstract

Based on ethnographic research among the Misings of Assam and the ethnic communities of the Darjeeling Himalayas, the paper seeks to highlight the intricate relationship between Indigenous communities and their natural surroundings maintained through sacred connections of revering the spirits that govern it. It brings forth the notions of healing and care amongst these communities by engaging with practices of spirit worship, which govern the daily lives of these communities. Encounters with hegemonic forms of religious traditions, colonialism, and extractive forms of development regimes have rendered these communities vulnerable and marginalised. Literature also suggests that some of the most affected populations by “climate change” belong to Indigenous communities. In the process, their relationship with immediate natural surroundings has evolved and transformed, but with certain continuities in practices and beliefs. This has also challenged their existing forms of practice and their relationship with nature. Spirit worship has remained an integral part of their lives, playing a critical role in healing and care within a fast-changing world under “development”. Taking these aspects into consideration, throughout the article, we lay out several anecdotes from the Indigenous communities that will tell us about their beliefs and practices that continue to shape their lives.