Asian Folklore Studies, April 1st, 1994
The shamanistic tradition of the Hunzakut, a culture in the Karakoram mountains of northern Pakistan, centers around a religious specialist known as bitan. Bitan acts as a conduit between the people and the spiritual world. Some of the ceremonies involving bitan include the drinking of blood from severed goat heads, ritual dances, and trances. The role of bitan in the culture's political ideology and the changes the tradition as undergone due to colonial influences are discussed.
Abstract
The Hunzakut, a high-mountain people in the western Karakoram mountains of northern Pakistan, possess a ...
HighBeam Research, Free Preview: 'Shamans and mountain spirits in Hunza. (northen Pakistan)'... Full Membership required for unlimited access. Free 7-day trial.
Subscribers: HighBeam content is only available to HighBeam subscribers. Click the link above for more information.
