The paraphernalia of the Shamans of the Nepalese community in Darjeeling Himalaya

Shamans of Darjeeling Himalaya use paraphernalia such as sacred drums, porcupine quills, and pheasant feathers to cure illnesses caused by malevolent spirits, rooted in animist beliefs that rivers, forests, mountains, and trees are living entities with spirits. When disturbed by human activities, these spirits cause sickness, and shamans act as intermediaries between the human and spirit realms, falling into trance during séances. They also combine herbal medicine with faith healing. Although modernization and cultural assimilation have obscured some rituals, the people of Darjeeling preserve shamanic knowledge while adapting to changing socio-historical contexts.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This paper examines the significance of paraphernalia used by the shamans of Darjeeling Himalaya. The grant of Darjeeling on the 1st of February 1835 by the Chogyal of Sikkim to the English became a major turning point in the history of Darjeeling. The plantation of tea in the hills intensified the migration from Nepal. The emigrants carried their culture and traditions along with them. The legends of the sacred drum, Ban-Jhankri, porcupine quills, and pheasant feathers are frequently stated in the Nepalese population of Darjeeling. The shamans of different Nepalese ethnic groups acquired these gears. Each gear carries its own prominence and is used to cure people who are suffering from the malevolent spirits. The philosophy of animism relies on the idea of spirits present in both moving and stagnant entities. They held that rivers, forests, mountains, and trees are a living entity that consists of spirits. If humans disturb them with their undertakings, they tend to cause illness. The study delves into the uses of different shamanic items to cure illness; if they fail, then the séance has to be conducted by the family of fatalities. The shamans fall into a trance and act as the intermediaries between the human realm and the spirit realm. Shamans are also experts in herbal medicine. The medicines are supplemented with faith healing for better recovery. The paper also vividly points out the shamanic concepts of Phuk-fak, Jhar-phuk, and Jokhana. The findings suggest that although modernisation and cultural assimilation have obscured certain rituals, the people of Darjeeling preserve the shamanic knowledge while adapting to changing socio-historical contexts.