Sacred Neolithic Artifacts in khas/ kirat Shamanic Rituals in along Sub Himalayan region including Sikkim
Advanced International Journal for Research December 24, 2025 Hari Dutt Sharma, Saurabh Kumar Singh, Padam Sharma et al.
Khas and Kirat peoples of the sub-Himalayan region continue to use sacred Neolithic artifacts—polished axes, adzes, celts, perforated harvesters, sling balls, and ring stones—in shamanic rituals. These tools, crafted from dolerite, quartzite, and slate, originate from the Eastern Indian Neolithic tradition (circa 10,000 BCE) and show affinities with Hoabinhian cultures. Held only by ritual experts (Mangpa, Dhami, or Jhakri), they are revered as divine thunderbolts that "fall from heaven," signifying cosmic harmony and ancestral agrarian origins. In ceremonies like Ubhauli, Udhauli, and Masta Puja, the artifacts facilitate trance states, offerings to nature spirits, and rituals blending animism and ancestor worship. The study advocates interdisciplinary efforts to document and safeguard these symbols amid declining folk traditions.