Traditional Rituals Research Articles

The Rhythm of Hidden Religious Heritage: Dhol Puja of India’s Hijra Community

This Context of Religious Research commentary describes why scholars should attend to the Hijras of India. The Hijras are a marginalized transgender community in India. Although having a long historical presence with sociocultural importance, this community was often stigmatized and discriminated against due to their ambiguous gender identity and expression. The commentary identifies the Dhol Puja as a traditional clandestine ritual of the Hijra community that reflects their unique identity and cultural, religious heritage. Based on prior ethnographic research and community study throughout various locales of India, this commentary provides insights into the symbolic meaning and significance of the Dhol Puja for the Hijra community. It asserts that their spiritual performance serves as a form of sacred ritual that is resisting adaptation to modern times, and which could be a revival or adaptation of an ancient tradition. Additionally, the spiritual performance continues to serve as a celebration of the unique identity and religious tradition of the Hijra community. Offering this context can cultivate greater recognition and understanding of the religious practices in promoting social inclusion of Hijra community in India.

Feminist Rereading of Shabih’khani in Iran

This article examines Shabih’khani, a traditional ritual performance in Iran also known as Ta’ziyeh, in the context of the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement. It includes the historical challenges faced by Iranian women in a patriarchal society dominated by politics and religion, augmenting existing research on women’s Shabih’khani through recently discovered documents that show the erasure of feminine symbols within the tradition. The article also explores the theatrical conventions, dramaturgical elements, and historical reasons for the emergence and decline of women’s Shabih’khani, together with factors that contribute to the endurance of men’s Shabih’khani. By drawing connections and comparisons between Shabih’khani and the contemporary ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement, it illuminates the factors shaping the movement and offers insights into its potential for success and progress.

Harmony and Sustainability: Traditional Ecological Knowledge Systems of the Kaluppini Indigenous People

The existence of knowledge of local indigenous local knowledge in natural resource management has experienced a shift. This research aims to reveal the forms of wise tought of the natural environment by the Kaluppini indigenous people, and to reveal how the Kaluppini community maintains the ecological knowledge systems. This research used ethnographic methods. It is a qualitative research procedure for describing, analyzing, and interpreting elements of a cultural group such as behavior patterns, beliefs, and language that develop over time. Data analysis techniques are processed. The collected data was analyzed by using Berkes' theory (1980). The research results show that the Kaluppini indigenous people maintain their traditional ecological knowledge from time time. First, traditional institutions which include the role of traditional stakeholders along with the legal system and rules for implementing traditional rituals, play a core role in maintaining harmony between society and the environment. Second, ethical land management in the form of traditional agricultural methods, pest and disease control, crop rotation systems, selection of plant varieties, and efficient irrigation systems support agricultural sustainability. Third, the existence of myths related to nature produces a respectful attitude towards the surrounding natural environment. Finally, the implementation of zoning reflects a wise policy to conserve natural resources while meeting community needs. It is important to recognize that most regions in Indonesia are currently facing serious challenges in the form of the climate crisis, including the phenomenon of long droughts that threaten agricultural activities and daily life. However, the Kaluppini community stands out as a unique example amidst this changing climate.

Function and Meaning of Symbolism in the Memorial Ornaments of Munson and Lyman Tomb Ornaments: A Semiotic Study

This article is entitled “Function and Meaning of Symbolism in the Memorial Ornaments of Munson and Lyman Tomb Ornaments: A Semiotic Study.” The study aimed to describe the from, function, and meaning of symbolism in the Memorial of Munson and Lyman. The theory used to analyze the data was Charles Sander Pierce semiotic theory, using a descriptive qualitative method. The results of the study showed that there were 21 types of from, function, and meanings of symbols on the Munson and Lyman tomb ornaments , Namely : Relief ornaments of the SS Duncan ship & Relief ornaments of Mederika Ship, Releif ornaments of the merchant, Relief ornamen of Munson and Lyman meeting with Datuk Mangkuto, Relief ornaments of barter activies, Relief Ornaments of Martonun, Manduda, dan Paragat, Releif ornaments of going home from the garden, planting rice, Relief ornaments of Munson and Lyman showing the Bible as a sign language and the king’s guard bringing Munson and Lyman to the king, Relief ornaments of king panggalamei asking Munson and Lyman, Relief ornaments of Munson and Lyman in Uning-uningi, Relief ornaments of tragic that resulted in the death of Munson and Lyman & Relief ornaments of the cross Symbol, Relief ornaments of Onan Hariara, Relief ornaments of Nommensen arrival in Batak land, Relief ornaments of the community welcoming the arrival of Nommensen, Relief ornaments of the first church, Relief ornaments of the first Zending school being built and children already started going to school, Relief ornaments of Batak graduates from Nommensen education, Relief ornaments of negotiations and peace between the Batak and the Americans, Relief ornaments of the reconstruction of the padri war, Relief ornaments of the image of Jesus Christ, Tombstone. This research concludes that there are 21 forms of symbol functions that are important to understand the message contained in the Munson and Lyman Memorial Ornament. These symbols were created to represent Munson and Lyman's journey in spreading Christianity in Batak land. There are 21 types of symbol functions, including as means of transportation, trading tools, travel documentation, buying and selling transactions, visualizing weaving activities, agriculture, communication, judicial tools, accompanying traditional ceremony processes, determining the evangelist's burden, bartering places, missionary missions, church monuments, schools, graduations, peace symbols, Padri wars, Christian religion spread, and grave markers. There are 21 types of symbol meanings, including depicting Munson and Lyman's journey, urban trade, community life details, communication visualization, language translation, correct actions in misunderstandings, judicial processes, punishments, traditional rituals, Nommensen's arrival, community acceptance of Nommensen, church construction, community education, educational outcomes, peace, Christian religion spread, and the journey of spreading the Gospel in the land of Batak. Keywords: Memorial, Missionary, Munson and Lyman, Semiotic

Jesuits as Diplomats in the Service of Chinese Emperors in Early Modern Times

In East Asia, China played a special role spreading its superior culture to other nations. The relations between Europe and China, however, were besides trade destined by the attempts to spread Catholicism and later also Protestantism in China. Especially during the 17th and 18th centuries some of the Western missionaries bringing Western religion to China also tried to interpret traditional Chinese rituals like the veneration of Confucius and the ancestors in a pejorative way declaring these rites to be superstitious and to forbid them for Chinese Christians. The legation of the papal delegate Charles-Thomas Maillard de Tournon (1668- 1710) to China brought the latent quarrel between the adherents and the adversaries of the Rites to an outbreak. The Kangxi Emperor (1662-1722) tried to explain his attitude to the Holy See in Rome. Therefore, after several more general delegations of Jesuits to Europe Kangxi sent special embassies to Rome concerning the Chinese Rites. His efforts, however, to solve the problems and to protect Christianity and missionaries respecting the Chinese culture failed and the Rites were condemned.

Ethnobotany of traditional rituals of Javanese in the city of Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Mukarromah AN, Dzihni A, Azzam AK, Adiningsih AR, Utami AS, Nazar IA, Sunarto, Iskandar J, Saensouk S, Setyawan AD. 2024. Ethnobotany of traditional rituals of Javanese in the city of Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 7: 22-31. Surakarta is one of the municipalities in Central Java Province, Indonesia, known as a multicultural city, so it might be potential for cultural performances in the form of historical buildings, local culinary delights, cultural products, cultural arts, and traditional rituals. This research aimed to determine the use and meaning of plants in traditional rituals carried out by the people of Surakarta. Data were collected using in-depth interviews and observation methods collected primary data in three villages: Baluwarti, Mojosongo, and Keprabon, Surakarta City, Central Java, Indonesia. The results show that there are 10 traditional rituals commonly carried out by people in three villages, namely mitoni, medeking, procotan, wedding, death, grebeg maulud or sekaten, grebeg syawal, tedhak siten, tumpengan, and sadranan, where, each traditional ritual uses plants according to their respective meanings. There are 27 plant species belonging to 20 families used in traditional rituals by the people of three villages. Most respondents purchase plants used in traditional rituals from the traditional markets due to increasingly limited open space for planting the plant species.

Plant species composition and diversity in traditional agroforestry landscapes on Siberut Island, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract. Indra G, Mukhtar E, Syamsuardi, Chairul, Mansyurdin. 2024. Plant species composition and diversity in traditional agroforestry landscapes on Siberut Island, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 1286-1296. The research conducted on Siberut Island, situated in the western part of Sumatra, focuses on traditional communities practicing an agroforestry land management system. This study aimed to identify the plant species within agroforestry land, their respective uses, and techniques for adapting these species to the landscape in two villages, Matotonan in South Siberut District and Bojakan in North Siberut District, Mentawai Islands. Data collection involved direct observation, unstructured interviews for plant species utilization, and transects with a 10m width along contour lines for landscape data. The findings revealed that Siberut's traditional agroforestry land, known as "Pomunean," is divided into Tinugglu and Mone categories based on land slope, proximity to riverbanks, and planted species. Plant species in agroforestry land served nine primary purposes, including staple and additional food, construction, furniture, medicine, firewood, traditional rituals, and commercial activities. Tinugglu land exhibited a higher Landscape Utilization Value Index (LUVI) at 57% compared to Mone land (43%). Regarding specific plant types, Metroxylon sago (Bojakan) and Durio zybethinus (Matotonan) had the highest LUVI values. These findings shed light on the vital role that traditional ecological knowledge and sustainable land management play in maintaining the delicate balance between human livelihoods and the preservation of natural ecosystems.

Indigenous Education System and Environmental Conservation Initiatives for Sustainable Development: Experiences from Nyamwezi in Uyui District, Tanzania

For centuries, African communities in their localities have co-existed with their natural environment in a harmonious manner leading to sustainability of both, the humans and the natural resources base. This co-existence is enabled by what is referred to as the indigenous environmental knowledge system. Indigenous knowledge has always been transferred from one generation to the next through norms, stories and cultural practices. This paper explores Indigenous Education systems and their implications to the conservation practices of the environment in Uyui district in Tabora region. The paper dwells on both primary and secondary data to provide insights on how Indigenous Education Systems embedded with traditional, initiation and local religious affiliation, have been used since time immemorial as one of the indirect initiatives of preserving, protecting and managing natural catchment forests. Random, Snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used to get a total of 120 respondents for this study. The study revealed that local communities in Uyui district have their system of knowledge affiliated with traditions, rituals and taboos which have been used to protect environmental and natural resources since the pre-colonial era up to the post-colonial epoch in Tanzania. The majority of respondents argue that the indigenous knowledge system was practical in protecting the natural resources in the local areas as it was embedded in the taboos, traditional rituals and religious beliefs. Failure or abandonment of the indigenous traditions has led to mismanagement of forest resources and other natural resources. The paper recommends both local and central government incorporate Indigenous knowledge and experiences in their endeavors of protecting and preserving the Environment in Uyui district in Tabora region for sake of sustainable development in Tanzania.

Confirmation – a Space for Human and Divine Action. Traditional Ritual in the Process of Changes in Secular Czechia

Abstract Work with confirmands and the concept of confirmation have undergone a number of changes in recent decades. This study explores the changes that have taken place in the largest Protestant church in Czechia, the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren. With the help of empirical research, it attempts to trace general trends and confronts them with the proposal of a new confirmation liturgy of the ECCB (2023), current theories of confirmation, and the results of European research on confirmation. It concludes by showing the difficulties inherent in trying to reduce confirmation to one core meaning, and recommends that a balance is sought between the subjective and objective as well as theological and anthropological dimensions. Confirmation is both an opportunity to accompany adolescents with intercession and blessing on the journey of faith that began with baptism, and a space where they can respond to it and assume their own religious responsibility.

Restoring that which has never been: Hmong millenarianism and the reinvention of tradition

AbstractWhile change and flexibility in ritual practices and traditions have been in some sense constitutive elements of Hmong religion, the religious landscape of the contemporary Hmong diaspora is marked by dramatic changes of an altogether new scale. These include the proliferation of a wide range of competing millenarian movements. Leaders of these movements vie for recognition by casting traditional Hmong ritual practice in a way that allows them to convey their ritual innovations as more authentic than traditional religious forms, underwritten by a genuine mandate of heaven. This requires religious activists to decouple the indexical relationship between traditional ritual and its objects (ancestors and a prosperous future) in order to forge new semiotic relationships between new ritual canons, orthographies, and the future of Hmong society. Hmong millenarian activism challenges conventional notions of ‘conversion’ and ‘proselytizing’, both because the intended audience is limited to fellow Hmong, and because the suasive practices in which these activists engage are actively trying to rework semiotic connections within a broadly shared Hmong matrix of meaning.

Reflection of sacred symbols in folklore and dance culture of Chechens

The article is devoted to the study of sacred symbols represented in the petroglyphs of Chechnya and widely used in the material culture of the local population of the ancient and late medieval era: in the decoration of metal products, the ornament of carpets and ceramics. The author believes that sacred symbolism is reflected in spiritual culture. The circle, the cross, the spiral and other sacred symbols have been embodied in a variety of forms in oral folk art, dance culture, ritual traditions, the Nart epic, thereby defining the stylistic features of the culture of the North Caucasus. Sacred meanings are imprinted not only in the images of dancing anthropomorphic figures on the walls of residential and combat towers, but also the pattern of their movements and gestures repeats the outlines of ancient symbols, thereby testifying to the ritual nature of the origin of folk dance and many genres of oral folk art. The methodological basis of the research is a set of general historical, ethnographic and archaeological research methods, the use of which is determined by the nature of the material being studied. Thus, the internal space and structure of the phenomena of spiritual culture correspond to the forms of the main sacred symbols that existed in the culture of the peoples of the region in ancient times, thereby creating a special style of North Caucasian culture, which is characterized by inner sacredness. The reflection of mythological plots and symbols in petroglyphs and bronze plastics of the Koban culture of late Bronze and early iron testifies to the deep antiquity of folk dance and many genres of oral folk art of the population of the North Caucasus and speaks about the close intertwining of the phenomena of material and spiritual culture in that period, about the sacredness of being in its representations. Ritualism penetrates into all spheres of life (labor, funeral rite, wedding ceremony), protecting the ancient man from all bad things.

From ritual to regulation: The ban on Nerium oleander L. in Kerala temples - A factual overview with an Ayurvedic perspective

Government-run Travancore and Malabar Devaswom boards overseeing Kerala’s 2500 temples have instituted a comprehensive ban on the usage of Nerium oleander L. flowers. Here, the authors examine the transition from traditional rituals to formal regulations, concerning the use of N. oleander in temples across Kerala. Traditionally revered in various religious ceremonies, N. oleander, a plant with both toxic and therapeutic properties, has recently faced a ban due to its potential health risks. This article provides a comprehensive factual overview of the reasons behind the ban and it delves into the Ayurvedic perspective on N. oleander, discussing its medicinal applications and the risks associated with its improper use. Although the toxicity of Nerium has been proven, the restriction on it has to be revisited on multiple levels, to fully comprehend the negative impact, this can have on the future of traditional medicine practice.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in ASSAM: Debates, Impact and Possible steps

Abstract: Article 44 of the Constitution says, "The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India." Assam is the third state, following Uttarakhand and Gujarat, all ruled by the Hindu nationalist BJP, to move toward a unified civil law for all religious groups, however the tribal communities, comprising 12.45 percent of the state’s population, will be exempted from the code. As per the government UCC will deal with four points — preventing underage marriage, banning polygamy, inheritance laws and registration of live-in relationships. It will not deal with traditional rituals or practices,” Even if the communities governed under the sixth schedule areas will be exempted, it will affect the other communities practising their customary rights. Based on the enumeration of the 2011 census, Assam has a population of 61.47 per cent Hindus, 34.22 per cent Muslims and 3.7 per cent Christians.

Sacrifice in Judaism and its Challenges to Christian Religious Worship in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis

This comparative analysis explores the concept of sacrifice in Judaism and its challenges to Christian religious worship in Nigeria. Sacrifice holds significance in both faith traditions, influencing worship practices in diverse ways. The study focuses on theological implications, historical contexts, and contemporary relevance of sacrificial practices in Judaism and Christianity. In Judaism, sacrifice historically played a central role in religious worship, with rituals of animal offerings serving as means of atonement, thanksgiving, and communion with God. The Hebrew Bible outlines detailed instructions for sacrificial practices, emphasizing purity, obedience, and spiritual intent. However, with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the practice of animal sacrifice ceased, leading to new interpretations of sacrifice within Jewish theology. In Nigeria, Christianity has become dominant, coexisting with traditional religious practices involving sacrificial offerings to deities and spirits. The introduction of Christianity in Nigeria has presented challenges to traditional sacrificial practices, resulting in theological debates, cultural conflicts, and shifts in religious identity among Nigerian Christians. The tension between traditional sacrificial rituals and Christian teachings on sacrifice has influenced religious worship practices in Nigeria, showcasing the complexities of religious syncretism and cultural adaptation. This analysis examines the challenges that the concept of sacrifice poses to Christian religious worship in Nigeria, exploring how the legacy of sacrificial practices in Judaism influences Christian perspectives on sacrifice, redemption, and divine worship. By comparing sacrificial traditions in Judaism and Christianity, this study aims to deepen understanding of how religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and theological perspectives interact and evolve in diverse religious contexts. Keywords: Sacrifice, Judaism, Christianity, Religious Worship, Nigeria, Comparative Analysis, Theology, Rituals, Syncretism, Cultural Adaptation

Globalne Południe poza kulturową różnorodnością. Dyskurs wykluczenia w podręcznikach językowych

The aim of the article is to present the results of the analysis of the contents related to the Global South in language textbooks, which, due to the cultural aspects of teaching a foreign language, are of particular importance in intercultural education. The method of content analysis was used in the study, with inductive and deductive data coding in the Atlas.ti 7 program. The results show the ways of discursive exclusion of the Global South, characterized by one-sidedness and Eurocentrism noticeable in textbooks images of this world region. The collected data made it possible to distinguish such elements of the discourse of exclusion as victimization (linking the image of the Global South with various problems), exoticization (descriptions of the Global South in the context of traditional rituals or the richness of nature) and incapacitation (absence of representatives of the Global South in the texts or presenting them as passive beneficiaries of external aid). Despite the potential of shaping intercultural competences that language education brings, in the aspect of the Global South, it seems necessary to modify the content of textbooks in the direction of diversity, equal treatment of cultures, getting rid of the sense of superiority and ethnocentric attitudes.

Виноградарство и виноделие в Дагестане (XVIII – начало ХХ в.): традиционные технологии и аграрная обрядность

Целью исследования является выявление зональных особенностей возделывания винограда и его переработки, а также анализ традиционных обрядов, связанных с виноградарством и виноделием. Использованы архивные источники, опубликованные законодательные акты и литературные сведения. Определены способы выращивания винограда, религиозно-магические представления и аграрные культы, связанные со сбором урожая и традициями изготовления домашнего вина. Выявлены правовые коллизии, запрещающие употребление крепких напитков. Установлено, что разведение винограда в Дагестане имеет зональные особенности: в горах виноград размножали саженцами, прививками, черенками и отводками, на равнине – на деревьях, кольях, в расстил и лежачей лозой, а также аллейным и проволочным методами, привнесенными армянскими и грузинскими виноделами. Статья является первым исследованием виноградарства и виноделия на региональном уровне, предпринятым с позиции этнографической науки. The aim of the study is to identify zonal characteristics of grape cultivation and processing, as well as to analyze traditional rituals associated with viticulture and winemaking. Archival materials; statistical data; testimonies of Russian officers and travelers of the 19th century; works of historians, ethnographers and specialists in the wine industry were studied. The methodology is based on the use of the historical-comparative method and the method of historical reconstruction. Using these methods, endemic grape varieties and traditional methods of cultivating them were identified, ancient recipes for making homemade wine were restored, and agricultural rituals associated with harvesting and traditions of making homemade wine were described. The role of terrace farming is emphasized as one of the main factors in the development of viticulture in the mountain-valley zone of Dagestan. Legal conflicts resulting from the ban on the consumption of strong drinks were identified. It was established that endemic grape varieties were grown in the mountains for their own consumption, wine production and its exchange for agricultural and livestock products; There were two types of wine produced: boiled and unboiled. The main centers of winemaking in Dagestan were identified, located in the mountain-valley zone (the villages Gimry, Zubutli, Gotsatl, etc.), on the plain (the city Kizlyar and its environs) and in Southern Dagestan (the city Derbent). The history of the formation of wine production in these urban centers was analyzed. As the study showed, the main reasons for the decline of viticulture in the mountains were land shortages and religious prohibitions related to the consumption of wine. Local rulers at the legislative level introduced a ban on the consumption, production and sale of wine; the ban on the use of alcohol was often part of the local system of customary law (the so-called adats). It was established that the cultivation of grapes in Dagestan had zonal features: in the mountains, grapes were propagated by seedlings, grafting, cuttings and layering; on the plain, on trees, stakes, spread and lying vines, alley and wire systems introduced by Armenian and Georgian winemakers. In addition, the cultivation of grapes in the region depended on natural and climatic conditions – endemic varieties were grown in the mountains, imported varieties were grown on the plains. The work is the first study of viticulture and winemaking from the perspective of ethnographic science, and is intended to revive interest in the autochthonous varieties of Dagestan grapes and their cultivation, taking into account zonal characteristics.

Eksplorasi Tumbuhan dalam Ritual Mappacci Suku Bugis di Wajo: Memahami Kekayaan Etnobotani Budaya Lokal Masyarakat

Mappacci is one of a series of traditional wedding rituals of the Bugis tribe. This research aims to classify and identify various types of plants and the meaning of their use in the traditional rituals of the Bugis mappaci tribe. This research method is descriptive qualitative. Data collection through observation, interviews and documentation. The results of the research found 7 types of plants in the Mappacci traditional ritual. The plant species used are Pacar (Lawsonia inermis L), Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam), Banana (Musa paradisiaca L), Rice (Oryza sativa L), Coconut (Cocos nucifera L), Palm (Arenga pinnata Merr) and Cotton (Ceiba pentandra) which includes 6 families, namely Lythraceae, Moraceae, Musaceae, Poaceae, Arecaceae, Bombacaceae. The plant parts used are leaves (75%), fruit (50%), seeds (25%), sap (25%). The plants used in the Mappacci traditional rituals of the Bugis tribe have a philosophical meaning of goodness. Community knowledge in the use of these plants is a tradition passed down from generation to generation from their ancestors

PEMANFAATAN ESTIMASI POSE GERAK PADA PENARI TRANCE DALAM RITUAL ADAT NGALAKSA

This research aims detected the motions poses of trance dancers as a computer vision model in the trance dancers performing arts. The annual ceremonies of the Ngalaksa ritual and the Tarawangsa art as cultural traditions in Rancakalong Tourism Village, located in Sumedang, West Java. This ritual serves as a reverent to the Rice Goddess, with the farmers engaging in ceremonial processions and traditional Ngalaksa rites. Accompanied by the melodic strains of Tarawangsa music, participants dancing in rhythmic dance, some even entering trance states. On the other hand, the advancement of artificial intelligence technology is rapid. This research used machine learning for detecting the motion poses of dancers experiencing trance. The research endeavors to discern motion poses within trance dancers during Ngalaksa rituals for understanding the dynamics motion of traditional Ngalaksa rituals. Machine learning methods applied particularly computer vision utilizing GluonCV model. The study analyzes a dataset comprising motion poses of dancers in Rancakalong Village. Data gathering involves firsthand observation, field participation, and in-depth interviews with informans, including Saehu, dancers and Arak-Arakan participants. The research findings show the accuracy of pose estimation within the Ngalaksa ritual, though refinement of detection models for both trance and non-trance dancers warrants further research.

From Folklore to Film: The Politics of Storytelling and Ecological Agency in the film Kantara

In 2022, the Kannada film “Kantara” captivated audiences with its unique blend of folklore, environmentalism, and political commentary. This paper argues that “Kantara” transcends conventional cinema to become a powerful agent of ecological discourse and empowerment. Set against India’s backdrop of complex human-nature interactions, “Kantara” weaves a narrative that resonates with contemporary concerns. Drawing upon postcolonial ecocriticism, indigenous studies, and film theory, this analysis delves into the film’s layered meanings. We examine how “Kantara” intertwines the legend of a forest deity with the struggles of a tribal community facing displacement. The film celebrates indigenous knowledge and critiques exploitative development through its portrayal of traditional rituals and beliefs. “Kantara” goes beyond storytelling; it immerses viewers in a sensory experience. Breathtaking visuals and a powerful musical score paint a vivid picture of the sacred forest and its inhabitants, creating a deep emotional connection. Ultimately, “Kantara” compels viewers to become active participants in the dialogue surrounding ecology and social justice. By analyzing the film’s subversive potential and its celebration of community resilience, we argue that it acts as a catalyst for ecological agency, inspiring viewers to advocate for sustainable practices and fight for cultural preservation. This paper contributes to the growing scholarship on folklore, film, and environmental activism in India. By offering a detailed analysis of “Kantara,” we aim to enrich the discourse on cinema’s role in fostering critical engagement with ecological and social issues. Examining the film’s nuanced portrayal of folklore, its powerful environmental message, and its subversive political commentary, we hope to shed light on the transformative potential of storytelling in shaping a more just and sustainable future.

The Influence of Buddhism on the Traditional Rituals of the Buryats of the Eastern Sayan Region

The article, based on field materials, examines the transformation of the worldview of the Buryats of the Eastern Sayan region under the influence of Buddhism. The relevance of the study comes from the need to clarify the value matrices of the traditional society of this region nowadays. The purpose of the study is to identify the key features of the interaction of traditional rituals with later beliefs among the bearers of these values. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to solve several problems: modern scientific ideas about the influence of Buddhism on traditional beliefs were systematized; the specific relationships of Buddhism, traditional shamanism and beliefs are highlighted; the dominant values of Buddhism reinterpreting the heritage of religious practices combined with it are clarified. Further, based on the analysis of field research, the most significant differences in the interpretations of such reinterpreted values were revealed, distinguishing them from traditional Buddhism. Using examples of existing customs, the modern development of the process of integration of the Buddhist worldview into the already existing ritual culture of the Sayan Buryats is traced. The research methodology includes comparative historical and religious studies and hermeneutical approaches. The field study used the method of interview. As a result, the role of Buddhism was confirmed as a way of adaptively rethinking the heritage of traditional culture in light of the modern crisis of values, associated, among other things, with the forgetting of traditions, consumer attitudes towards the environment, nature, society and even loved ones. Turning to Buddhism in the Eastern Sayan region today, as in the past, is becoming one of the ways to overcome such negative phenomena. Buddhism in the region not only absorbed beliefs that existed at different stages of the history of ethnic Buryatia, but also adapted them to its religious practice. A Buddhist worldview of this type corresponds to the concepts of vernacular religion accepted in modern religious studies. Forming a syncretical holistic picture of the world that corresponds to local conditions and the historical period, vernacular Buddhism defines a wide range of existing values that ideologically and practically incorporate the ritual culture that has developed over centuries.