Published Paper Details:

It is a common known fact that the world today is challenged by several environmental issues. Awareness programs and actions to protect nature are not absent altogether. Yet we, in our day to day basis, witness how grave this crisis is heaping around. We are well aware of the accelerating demands of modern day lifestyle yet bound to it. In the above context this paper would like to present a tribal practice rather a belief in the simplicity of livelihood in the tribal Limbu community of Darjeeling hills. Shamanism is a worldwide phenomenon, prevalent among the tribal communities. Ever since the archaic period the practice has been an eternal part of the community, having faith in animism. The faith which believes that the natural entities like mountain, hills, spring, rain, forest, fire and everything around us has spirit in them. The spirits are capable of effecting human life if acted accordingly or adversely. The faith claims that their ancestors are residing with them in 'pitri kotha' as guardians. The proposed work aims to bring forward the aspects of limbu culture which involves their mundhum (oral scripture), rituals, practices, beliefs in consideration to environment around them. With very little focus, the simplistic tradition still adhered in rural setup of Darjeeling hills, has been a pioneer of harmony between man and nature. This paper would like to bring forth the significance of the culture as nature's defender ever since.