Sacred Neolithic Artifacts in khas/ kirat Shamanic Rituals in along Sub Himalayan region including Sikkim

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article explores how the Khas and Kirat peoples of the sub-Himalayan region including Sikkim, Darjeeling, eastern Nepal, and Bhutan continue to use sacred Neolithic artifacts in their shamanic rituals. Through a synthesis of archaeological evidence and ethnographic observations, it traces the integration of prehistoric stone tools such as polished axes, adzes, celts, perforated harvesters, sling balls, and ring stones into contemporary spiritual practices. These artifacts, crafted from materials like dolerite, quartzite, and slate, originate from the Eastern Indian Neolithic tradition (circa 10,000 BCE), exhibiting typological affinities with Hoabinhian cultures of Southeast Asia and South China, and were uncovered at 29 sites in Sikkim's East and North districts during surveys in the 1980s–2000s. Held only by ritual experts (Mangpa or Dhami among Kirat Tibeto-Burman communities like Rai, Limbu, and Lepcha; Jhakri among Khas Indo-Aryan groups like Chhetri and Bahun), these implements are revered as divine thunderbolts (Vajra dunga) that "fall from heaven," signifying cosmic harmony, fertility, and ancestral agrarian origins. In shamanic ceremonies like the Kirat festivals of Ubhauli (spring ascent for cultivation) and Udhauli (winter descent), or the Khas Masta Puja (invocations for soil health and protection), the artifacts facilitate trance states, offerings to nature spirits, and rituals blending animism, ancestor worship, and ecological wisdom. In the context of terraced farming and shifting cultivation (Jhum), the study emphasizes their dual spiritual and practical significance in mediating human-nature relationships. Amid declining folk traditions due to socio-economic shifts, this analysis underscores the artifacts' role in preserving cultural identity and intangible heritage, advocating for interdisciplinary efforts to document and safeguard these ancient symbols of Himalayan shamanism. Amid declining folk traditions due to socio-economic shifts, this analysis underscores the artifacts' role in preserving cultural identity and intangible heritage, advocating for interdisciplinary efforts to document and safeguard these ancient symbols of Himalayan shamanism.