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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
This weekend, Kinnaur Literary Festival returns to Kalpa with a dialogue on heritage, change, and ideas
In the hushed grandeur of the snow-kissed Himalayas, where devtas are still said to walk among people and monasteries gaze over valleys of silence, the second edition of the Kinnaur Literary Festival is set to begin on Saturday in the scenic Kalpa village in Himachal Pradesh. Over two days, writers, scholars, diplomats, environmentalists, and public intellectuals will gather to reflect on some of the most compelling questions of our time—rooted in this remote region yet resonating far beyond it. Organised by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, and Government Degree College, Reckong Peo, the festival will unfold against the dramatic backdrop of Kinnaur Kailash and the orchards of Kalpa. This year's theme—'Conversations in the Lap of the Himalayas'—frames an eclectic series of panels that span memory, media, gender, ecology, and geopolitics. Among the standout sessions is 'Kinnaur's Past and Future: Navigating Change in a Timeless Land', which explores the fragile balance between tradition and modernity in a region deeply shaped by nature, faith, and border proximity. Another session, 'History and Heritage Conservation in the Land of Tibetan Buddhism and Devtas', focuses on the urgency of preserving Kinnaur's unique civilisational identity. Reflecting on the role of journalism and democratic dialogue, the panel 'News, Narratives & the Public Mind' will see editors and public commentators discuss how the media shapes perception in an era of noise and polarisation. Also on the agenda are thought-provoking conversations on 'Green Energy and Environment', 'Breaking Boundaries: The Evolution of Women's Property Rights', and 'Diplomacy and Defense: Conflict and Cooperation with Neighbours'. Some of the eminent speakers and authors include Harish Khare, former advisor to the Prime Minister, environmentalist Evert Vlaswinkel, historian and filmmaker Sohail Hashmi, diplomat T C A Raghavan, former ambassador to Pakistan, former editor and South Asia expert Nirupama Subramanian, and former civil servant Deepak Sanan, among others. A rare blend of scholarship and storytelling, the festival is also a celebration of Kinnauri hospitality, curated walks, and immersive cultural showcases. Local students and educators will take part in literary readings and interactions with guests. The event is being helmed by Deputy Commissioner Amit Kumar Sharma, IAS, with academic coordination led by Dr Uttam Chand, Principal, Government Degree College, Reckong Peo. According to Sharma, the Kinnaur Literary Festival 2025 promises not just inspiration, but connection—between the local and the global, the written and the lived, the past and the possible. The fest will conclude on Sunday.
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Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
'Shamans of the Himalayas' captures valley life in words and images
Shamans of the Himalayas Publisher: Om Books International 340 pages Price: ₹595 One of India's most acclaimed documentary filmmakers and cultural chroniclers, Anu Malhotra, has released a rare and riveting account of her decade-long immersion with the Goors (shamans) of the Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. The beautifully illustrated book is both a travel memoir and an anthropological reflection, giving readers an intimate view of the Devta culture — an ancient system of spirit deities and rituals that is still practised by villagers in the picturesque Kullu valley. The Shamans of the Himalayas began in 2008 when Ms Malhotra encountered a shaman of Hadimba Devi in a divine possession trance during a celebratory mela in Manali. Ms Malhotra decided to document this culture and learn more about it. Ms Malhotra was soon swept into the mystical world of Goors — powerful shamans who serve as mediums of the Devta — oracles, trance mediums, exorcists, doctors, astrologers, counsellors, psychotherapists, life coaches, spiritual guides, practitioners of magic, and healers. It was astonishing indeed for her to see Goors go into a trance, allowing the spirit of the Devi or Devta to enter their bodies and communicate with people through them. Ms Malhotra went on to unravel many sacred rituals, magico-religious practices and traditional healing modalities — many of which had never been documented before. She was surprised to find that the village Devtas were not merely objects of worship but an institution governing every aspect of life – social, cultural, moral, economic, religious, and political. The shamans act as spiritual intermediaries who continue to guide village life in this remote terrain. 'The village Devta or Devi guides all activities, including festivals, marriages, and customs,' she writes. She also discovered that in order to film any of the valley's religious activities, she required formal permission from the Devta of the area. She began working on her four-part documentary series in 2008, and took three years to research, film, and edit it. A few years ago, she decided to adapt the series into a book, which took about four years to write. At the outset, the author defines and introduces various types of shamanism practices across the world – such as trance states, spirit possession, and sacred healing – particularly in India. 'Shamanism encompasses the premise that shamans are intermediaries or messengers between the human world and the spirit world,' she writes. While researching the subject, Ms Malhotra found that shamanic traditions are a universal form of cultural practice. 'They represent humanity's earliest spiritual practices going back about 30,000 to 60,000 years,' she says. Moreover, the practice of shamanism has been documented throughout Asia, Oceania, North and South America, Africa, and parts of Europe. 'The main role of a Goor is to be the medium of the Devta. To allow divine possession to take place, or for their body to be taken over by the Devta, requires them to be in a state of trance, or altered state of consciousness,' explains Ms Malhotra. After following Tuleram, the Goor of Hadimba Devi for a while, Ms Malhotra finally manages to meet him and uncover his extraordinary story. Her quest leads her to search for other Goors in the region, including a female one. For the people of Kullu, communicating with their gods through Goors and divine healings are a part of their everyday lives, even for the so-called 'cosmopolitan Paharis'. Ms Malhotra observes that devotees come to the Devi with full faith, with problems ranging from physical and mental health, career-related, familial as well as community-related issues. 'The Devi's suggestions and solutions can range from herbal cures, behavioural changes and pujas to animal sacrifices and even exorcisms,' she explains. Needless to say, the role of the Goor comes with much responsibility. Bound by rules and regulations, Goors receive many benefits and much respect. The author also delves deep into the historical background of divine possession. Among other fascinating events, she also witnesses a mass exorcism. Ms Malhotra also throws light on various 'nature spirits' that are believed in across the world. Along the way, she also makes important reflections, such as the fact that the inequalities of the caste system are very much a lived reality not just for the majority of the population in the Kullu Valley but across the country. The book is interspersed with photographs by the author, depicting all that she saw and experienced first-hand. Having personally lived in Manali briefly during my childhood, vivid descriptions of the valley and its people particularly spoke to me.
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘This is why it is called Dev Bhoomi': Anu Malhotra's journey into Kully Valley's living Devta culture with her book ‘Shamans of the Himalayas'
If you're a K-drama aficionado like I am, chances are your first introduction to shamanism came through the screen. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Himachal's Kullu Valley has its own rich, living, breathing shamanic tradition rooted in the Himalayan Devta culture. Here, gods don't just reside in temples — they travel in palanquins, settle village disputes, and even decide wedding dates. When documentary filmmaker and author Anu Malhotra first visited the valley, she, too, didn't expect to be pulled into a world where gods walk among people and daily life decisions are guided by ritual and trance. What she encountered was not a distant remnant of the past, but a thriving, sacred ecosystem, one where shamans known as Goors serve as living conduits between the human and divine. Her new book, Shamans of the Himalayas, emerges from years of deep immersion – over a hundred interviews, countless journeys, and the transformative experiences that also shaped her award-winning documentary series of the same name. We caught up with Malhotra to understand the workings of this tradition, its meaning, and why this ancient way of life still matters today. Read the edited excerpts below: In Kullu, the Devis and Devtas are not just temple-bound, they move among people. The gods are considered living entities. They ride in processions, visit other deities, and participate in village festivals. This is why the valley is called Dev Bhoomi, the land of the gods. Within this sacred ecosystem, the Goor – what the world might call a shaman – plays a central role. The Goor acts as a medium between our world and what lies beyond. Through them, the gods speak. Far from being exotic or distant, this communication is deeply woven into daily life. Locals consult a Goor before building homes, arranging marriages, or resolving a village crisis like asking for rain or ending it. Though shamanism is tribal at its root, in the Kullu Valley, it is absorbed within Sanatan Dharma. The divine manifests as Devis and Devtas, often localised avatars of Hindu gods. Some are ancestral heroes, Naag Devtas (serpent deities), or nature spirits inhabiting forests, rivers and lakes, and mountains. This fusion of tribal spirituality with Hinduism is what gives the culture its distinctive character. It's not a fringe practice, it's fully integrated. What the world calls shamanism, we live as Devta culture. The Goor is not a separate healer—they are the voice of the Devta. This isn't an isolated belief system. It's a lived, community-anchored tradition rooted in the rhythms of the land. While in trance states, the Goor becomes the mouthpiece of the deity. People gather – sometimes in large public festivals, sometimes in intimate sessions called pooch. The questions can range from illness to personal dilemmas to village-wide concerns or even exorcisms. There are other methods of divination too, some not involving trance, but deeply ritualistic and intuitive. Each session is approached with seriousness and reverence. You may not recognise a Goor in daily life. They may be uneducated, financially struggling, even working regular jobs. But when the Devta calls, everything else stops. They must go. That sense of surrender and responsibility is held with great honour. They carry the burden of responsibility with deep devotion. A Goor is supported by a team known as the Devloo, chosen by the deity. This includes a Pujari (priest), Kardar (manager), and Bajantris (musicians). It's the music that leads the Goor into trance. Each deity has a unique rhythm. While Shamans of the Himalayas focuses on the Kullu Valley, each region in India has its own cosmology. Their gods, rituals, and practices are different. You cannot generalise shamanism in India. It's hyperlocal and deeply embedded in community memory. Similar practices exist across India, from the Baigas of Madhya Pradesh to the tribal healers of the Northeast. What started as a film project became a life-altering journey. Over three years, I saw things I couldn't explain. I also saw how fragile this culture is, hidden behind tourism and ignored by modern India. I've tried to look at it with empathy, but also with a critical lens. It doesn't romanticise the culture. What is the psychology of belief? Why do we dismiss what we don't understand? We're losing cultural diversity at an alarming pace. The globalised world is erasing the very things that make us unique. The Kullu Valley is like a bubble – it has survived because it was once inaccessible. But even that's changing. At a time of ecological collapse and cultural amnesia, Shamans of the Himalayas asks us to pause. Maybe, just maybe, we need to look back—not to retreat, but to remember. There are different ways of being, of knowing, and of healing.
