Archives
2026
“Shamanic purity” and other 20th-century paradigms on drugs
By: GIORGIO SAMORINI – When scholars in the humanistic and scientific fields of research encounter drug-related topics, they express moral judgments dictated by a series of paradigms concerning drugs that emerged in the 20th century. Their cultural and psychological conditioning influence both methodologies and the interpretation of data, and consequently, research results. Limiting the focus…
‘Ymnni’: A Twisted Tale of the Moth’s Cocoon, Whirlwinds, Spirals and Vortexes, Bear Stars, Spirit Lights, Wormholes or Tunnels, and a Cosmological Perspective with Parallels in the Quantum Realm
By: HERMAN BENDER – The Lakota term “Ymnni” (sometimes spelled Yumni) meaning ‘twisted,’ connects various Northern Plains Indians natural phenomena with deeply held spiritual beliefs. This word (and concept) encompasses both physical and metaphysical dimensions, linking the natural world of spirals, the moth’s cocoon, whirlwinds and dust devils, severe thunders storms, the stars of the…
Who were the Aitan(e)s, or the early description of the Comanche people
By: RUSLAN YENDRZHIYEVSKYY – This essay introduces readers to an early description of the Comanche people compiled by the French traveller Fiektong G. in the second half of the 18th century. His writing was published in Russian translation in 1789, but the publication date of the French original is unknown. Although references to the Comanche…
Krampus: The Saint, the Bear, and the Devil. From the Claw to the Night Sun: The Eternal Return of the Bear King
Comparative Mythology, Cosmic Order (Rta), Gorgoneion, Indo-Europeans, Krampus, Saint Nicholas, Straw Bear, Ursine CeremonialismBy: SANDRA BUSATTA – This study examines the figure of Krampus and his ritual connection to Saint Nicholas, offering an interpretation that extends beyond the modern pedagogical-Christian perspective. Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines Indo-European philology, Paleolithic archaeology, and comparative ethnography, the work demonstrates that Krampus embodies the survival of the “Bear King,” an ancient…
Nature, Spirit, and Medicine: Ethnomedical Traditions of the Manger Community in the Sikkim Himalayas
Dhami-Jhankri, Ethnomedicine, Indigenous Knowledge, Medical Anthropology, Medicinal plants, Sustainable harvestingBy: NISHA THAPA MANGER – This paper presents an integrated ethnographic and ethnobotanical account of the Manger community (also spelled Mangar and identified as Magar in Nepal) in the Sikkim Himalayas. Based on fieldwork in the villages of Mangsari and Suldung in West Sikkim, the study examines the Dhami-Jhankri shamanic healing tradition, the community’s pluralistic…
Infant and Maternal Death in Mizo Eschatological Narratives: Rituals, Symbols and Cultural Beliefs
By: ELENA SAITHUAMI SAILO, ARUNDHATI DEVI MAIBAM – This paper explores the eschatological narratives of the Mizos living in the northeastern part of India, focusing on the cultural meanings and ritual practices related to infant and maternal death. Hlamzuih, or a deceased infant who is innocent, weak, and fragile, is symbolically guided to the afterlife…
Socio-Cultural Determinants of Longevity among the Tangkhuls of Ukhrul, Manipur: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
By: SANJOY AKOIJAM, RINHORLA SHADANG, KANGABAM AMARDEEP, HAOBIJAM VOKENDRO – Aging patterns in communities worldwide are influenced by traditional lifestyles and cultural practices, in addition to biomedical factors. Few studies have examined the socio-cultural determinants of longevity in communities in India’s northeastern region. The main objective of this paper is to assess the association between…
Eruption of Permanent Teeth among the Bengali Girls of Cachar District of Assam, India
By: ANAMIKA NATH, DHRUBA KUMAR LIMBU – Human dentition is an intriguing area of study, providing insights into racial origins, oral health, and comparisons between contemporary and past populations. This study examines the permanent teeth eruption pattern among Bengali girls in Kalain, Cachar district of Assam. Data were collected from 208 school-going girls aged 5…
Gender Identity in Digital Spaces: Social Perceptions of Nupi Manbi in Manipur
By: ANANDIBALA MANGSHATABAM, HAOBIJAM VOKENDRO – This article examines the role of digital communication in reshaping the social perception and public articulation of Nupi Manbi (trans women) identities in contemporary Manipur. Employing a qualitative and interpretive research design—combining questionnaires, semi‑structured interviews, and observational data—the study investigates how online platforms mediate the expression, negotiation, and circulation…
The Maxentian legacy of Herodes Atticus’s Villa at the third mile of the Via Appia Antica
Annia Regilla, Dynastic memory, Elite continuity, Herodes Atticus, Imperial reuse, Maxentius, Roman sacred law; Res sacrae and res religiosae, Sacred space transformation, Triopion, Via Appia AnticaBy: MARCO CECINI – At the beginning of the 4th century AD, Emperor Maxentius repurposed the land and buildings of the pre-existing estate of Herodes Atticus, along the Via Appia Antica, to construct the grand Imperial Villa that still bears his name today. Until now, it has been assumed that the emperor acted freely by…
L’eredità massenziana della Villa di Erode Attico al III Miglio della Via Appia Antica
Annia Regilla, diritto sacro romano, Erode Attico, Massenzio, memoria dinastica, res sacrae, riuso imperiale, spazio sacro, Triopio, Via Appia AnticaBy: MARCO CECINI – All’inizio del IV secolo d.C., l’imperatore Massenzio riutilizzò i terreni e le strutture della preesistente tenuta di Erode Attico, lungo la Via Appia Antica, per edificare la grande Villa Imperiale che ancora oggi porta il suo nome. Fino a oggi si è ritenuto che l’imperatore avesse potuto agire liberamente in virtù…
Assessment of few socio- economic, demographic and dietary factors on thinness among rural adolescent girls of Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India
By: SUTAPA BHOWMIK, ARGINA KHATUN – Adolescents are considered a nutritionally vulnerable population, and a proper diet with adequate nutrients is essential for their rapid physical development. Thinness indicates poor nutrition, as reflected by a relatively low Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m²) compared to height (cm). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 366 school-going adolescent…
Menstrual hygiene practices and knowledge amongst adolescent school-going girls (11-16 years) of Malda District, West Bengal, India
Menarche, menstrual health, Menstrual hygiene practices, Menstrual knowledge, Reproductive awarenessBy: ARUNIMA KUNDU – This cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 school students aged 10–16 years in Malda district to determine the mean age at menarche among adolescent school-going students, assess their menstrual hygiene practices and knowledge, and identify factors influencing these practices and knowledge. Data were collected through a self-administered, semi-open-ended questionnaire. The overall…
Prevalence and Patterns of Smoking Behaviour among Adults in Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh, India
By: ASHOK KUMAR YADAV, NANDKISHOR YADAV – Smoking remains a significant public health concern in India, with notable regional variations. This study assessed the prevalence and patterns of smoking behavior among adults in Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh. A community-based cross-sectional design was used, and data were collected from 390 respondents through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive…
Witch-Hunting as Gendered Violence: A Socio-Political and Historical Study of Tribal Society in Jangalmahal, Jhargram District, West Bengal (2000–2022)
By: AVIJIT SHIT – In early human societies, belief in witchcraft arose as people tried to explain illness and misfortune through supernatural forces. Even today, in many parts of India, especially in tribal regions, witch-hunting remains a serious form of violence against women. In most cases, single women and widows are the primary victims. This…
Cultivated food practices and indigenous preservation techniques among the Paudi-Bhuyan Tribe of Odisha, India
By: BEDAPRAKASH NARAYAN TANTY, RASHMI PRAMANIK, ARUN KUMAR ACHARYA – The Paudi-Bhuyan tribe is well known in the Sundargarh district of Odisha. They primarily live on hill slopes and practice mixed cultivation, generally known as Poduchasa (shifting cultivation). As hill dwellers, they depend on forest resources and cultivate crops on slopes. These foods, including paddy,…
Traditional Knowledge, Forest-Based Livelihoods and Sustainable Development among the Lodhas of Jhargram District, West Bengal
Ethnomedicinal Practices, Forest-Based Livelihoods, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Sustainable DevelopmentBy: BIGITENDRIYA DEBSHARMA – This study explores the relationship between traditional knowledge systems, forest‑based livelihoods, and sustainable development among the Lodha community of Kadamdiha village in Jhargram district, West Bengal, recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). Based on primary data from 221 individuals collected through household surveys, structured interviews, and ethnographic case studies,…
Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Indigenous Food Tradition: The 101 Vegetable Practice of the Bodo Tribe during Bwisagu
By: DHRUBAJYOTI NATH, S. SIMON JOHN, HANGMA BORO – Food is a fundamental component of a community’s cultural heritage. Beyond serving as a source of nourishment, it also reflects the community’s deep-rooted traditions and cultural values. Dietary habits are often shaped by belief systems, traditional wisdom, and the natural environment. Over generations, traditional knowledge and…
Quest for Identity: An Ethnographic Inquiry into the Mankirdias of Mayurbhanj, Odisha
By: GEETANJALI PANDA, PRASANT KUMAR SAHOO, RANJAN KUMAR NAIK – This study presents a critical ethnographic exploration of the ongoing cultural and religious transformation among the Mankirdias, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) living in the rolling hills of Similipal forests in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. Traditionally semi-nomadic, the Mankirdias are widely known for their expertise…
Marriage Taboos and Women’s Well-Being Among the Galo Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh
By: JIRKEN BOGO, AMIT KUMAR, SIMON JOHN – This paper explores how marriage ritual taboos are associated with women’s well-being and everyday experiences among the Galo tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. It focuses on the taboos of the Layap Agam marriage ritual, viewing them more as a belief system than as restrictions. The body serves as…
Present health and hygienic profile of the Kora Mudi tribe: a village-level study from Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal
By: SUMAN KALYAN SAMANTA, KUNDAN GHOSH – Present health and hygienic profile of the Kora Mudi tribe: a village-level study from Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal – Suman Kalyan Samanta, Kundan Ghosh – Any tribal society exists within a specific ecological setting. They share a common economy, traditional belief system, practices, attitudes, customs, values, norms,…
Jagoi Rās: A Sacred Synthesis of Ritual, Bhakti, Aesthetics, and Community Experience
By: LAIMAYUM SUBHADRA DEVI, SERAM RAJESHWARAN SINGH – Jagoi Rās is a living cultural tradition that integrates devotion, ritual practice, aesthetic expression, and community participation within Manipuri Vaiṣṇava society. Extending beyond performance, it functions as a contemplative discipline in which the dancer assumes the dual role of devotee and medium, while the community collectively engages…
Transition of Economy from Subsistence Forest-Based Living to Cash-Driven Livelihoods of Juang of Keonjhar, Odisha
By: MANU NAIK, RANJAN KUMAR BEHERA – This research examines how the Juang tribe of Keonjhar, Odisha, has shifted from an environmentally conscious way of life – gathering forest products without cutting trees, such as through the swidden farming method known as podu – to relying on wage labor, typically working for employers in exchange…
Age beyond Years: the Construction of social age and ageing in Rural Eastern India
By: MIR AZAD KALAM, SAPTAMITA PAL – This article examines social age as a culturally constructed and relational dimension of aging in rural eastern India. Based on semi‑structured interviews with 28 couples from diverse socio‑economic backgrounds, the study shows how age is interpreted and assigned through life‑course transitions, kinship roles, and embodied conditions rather than…
Sexual Dimorphism in Anthropometric Characteristics and Nutritional Determinants with Socioeconomic Factors among Slum-Dwelling Children of West Bengal, India
anthropometry, Body Mass Index-for-Age Z-score, Children, Height-for-Age Z-score, Nutritional Status, sex differences, Weight-for-Age Z-scoreBy: SARNALI SARKAR, FARHIN KHANAM, ASHISH MUKHOPADHYAY, MITHU BHADRA – Childhood sexual dimorphism in anthropometric traits reflects both biological and socioeconomic factors. Recognizing gender differences in growth and nutrition requires understanding these trends. This study aimed to explore sex-based differences in anthropometric characteristics and nutritional status using WHO indicators. This cross-sectional study was conducted among…
Family Planning and Fertility among the Garo Women of Garo Hills, Meghalaya
By: MARY R. MARAK, D. K. LIMBU – The present research was conducted among Garo women in the Garo Hills, Meghalaya. In this study, a total of 233 samples from Bajengdoba village and 252 from Tura town were collected from ever-married women aged 15 to 49 years. Although most married women in the Garo Hills…
Traditional religious beliefs and practices with special reference to the Rongmei Naga Tribe of Manipur
By: NANDKISHOR YADAV, ASHOK KUMAR YADAV – This study examines the traditional religious beliefs, rituals, and cultural life of the Rongmei Naga tribe living in Manipur state. It aims to understand the major religious rituals and traditional festivals that the Rongmei tribe has observed since ancient times, as well as their sociocultural and spiritual significance.…
Pottery and Antiquity: A Comparative Study of Daulatpur and Bhagwanpura
Antiquities, Bhagwanpura, Bone& Ivory, Daulatpur, Late Harappan Culture, material culture, PGW, Pottery Traditions, Stone, terracottaBy: NEELAM SHARMA, RAJPAL – This study compares the archaeological sites of Daulatpur and Bhagwanpura in Haryana to clarify cultural developments during the Late Harappan and early post-Harappan periods. Both settlements have yielded rich ceramic assemblages and a variety of small artifacts that illuminate technological practices, daily activities, and socio-economic conditions. The pottery from both…
High Variation in Genetic Markers of the Ranglong Tribe in Comparison with Neighbouring Populations of Northeast India
By: PRAIZY HALAM – The study of genetic markers is essential for understanding population structure and evolutionary relationships among human populations. This study investigates the distribution and variation of selected genetic markers – specifically, ABO blood groups, Rhesus (Rh[D]) blood types, phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) taste sensitivity, and color blindness – among the Ranglong tribe of Northeast…
From Aceramic to Megalithic: A Periodization of Kashmir’s Prehistoric Cultural Sequence
aceramic Neolithic, Burzahom, ceramic Neolithic, Cultural Continuity, Himalayan archaeology, Kashmir Neolithic, Megalithic, periodization, pit dwellings, trepanationBy: RASHID AHMAD RATHER, MALIK TAZIM NAZIR – This paper proposes a theoretical periodization of Kashmir’s prehistoric cultural development—from the aceramic Neolithic to the Early Historical era—based solely on published archaeological data. By examining architecture, subsistence, technology, mortuary practices, and material culture, it clarifies the diagnostic traits that define each phase. The aceramic Neolithic, best…
Trauma-Informed Medical Anthropology, Pedagogy and Challenges
By: UPMESH KUMAR, RAVINDER SINGH – The paper examines trauma in Indian contexts from various perspectives, including gender, caste, intergenerational trauma, ethnographic studies, and autobiographies of marginalized people, emphasizing why and how it should be taught. It also highlights the anthropological perspective, drawing on contributions from anthropologists working at various ethnographic sites worldwide. The paper…
A Comparative Study on the Assessment of Nutritional Status among Under-Five Children of the Kamar and Kharia Children in Mahasamund District, Chhattisgarh
By: SUNANDA SAHU, A. BIJAYASUNDARI DEVI – Malnutrition remains a major public health concern among tribal children in India, significantly increasing the risk of morbidity and mortality. This community-based cross-sectional study assessed and compared the nutritional status of children under five years old from the Kamar and Kharia tribes in Mahasamund district, Chhattisgarh. A total…
From Plucking to Leading: Women’s Economic Empowerment – A Case Study of Satischnadra Tea Garden in Darjeeling District
By: NANDINI BHOWMIK, SAMAR KR. BISWAS – This article examines the shifting economic and gender dynamics among women tea plantation workers in India, focusing on the Satischandra tea garden in the Darjeeling district. Although women constitute the backbone of the tea industry—particularly through labour‑intensive tasks such as leaf plucking—they continue to be positioned as secondary…
Karam Puja in West Bengal: A Folk Festival of Fertility, Nature, and Communal Prosperity
By: ARUP MAJUMDER, SARNALI DUTTA – Karam Puja, celebrated primarily by tribal communities in eastern India, holds significant cultural and religious importance in West Bengal, particularly in districts such as Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, and parts of Birbhum. Rooted in agrarian traditions, the festival centers on the worship of Karam Devta (the god of fate, productivity,…
Sex-based variations and the role of lifestyle factors in hypertension among Oraons of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal: A comparative study of rural and urban settings
By: ANINDITA PAUL, SUBIR BISWAS, INDU BHAUMIK – Hypertension is one of the most dangerous non-communicable diseases due to its multifaceted burdens. Tribals, who are often thought to be protected from hypertension because of their traditions, have been reported to have a high prevalence. This study aims to document lifestyle factors and their effects on…
Cultural and Health Dynamics of Fast-Food Consumption in Rural West Bengal, India: A Study from an Anthropological Perspective
By: SATARUPA SARKAR, ABHIJIT DAS – In recent years, significant changes in lifestyle and food habits have occurred in both rural and urban India. Fast food consumption has increased, affecting health, nutrition, and culture overall. Consumption of fast food is particularly high among children and youth, especially high school and college students, as well as…
Decoding Sexual Dimorphism: A Dermatoglyphic Analysis of Adolescents in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh
By: SHEETAL SINGH, AMAN KHAJURIA, AJEET JAISWAL – This study investigates sexual dimorphism in dermatoglyphic traits among adolescents from the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh. The sample included 260 participants (130 males and 130 females) aged 10–18 years, selected through purposive sampling. Fingertip and palmar prints were collected using the standard ink method, following established…
Echoes of the Ancestors: Interpreting Mangar Ritual Symbolism in the Darjeeling Hills, India
ancestor worship, Cultural Continuity, ethnography, Indigenous beliefs, Mangar community, Ritual symbolismBy: SOVAN CHAKRABORTY – The Mangar community is often overlooked. This paper examines ritual symbolism among the Mangar community in the Darjeeling hills of India. The Mangars are a small Himalayan group with a long history of ritual practice. Their traditions now face pressure from migration and wider religious influences. These pressures shape how rituals…
Involuntary Adaptive Migration: Structural Displacement, Ritual-Economy Transition, and the Reconfiguration of Livelihoods Among a Nomadic Community in Central India
Central India, distress migration, informal economy, involuntary migration, Jajmani system, Jogi community, nomadic community, nomadism, social exclusion, urban precarityBy: SOUMYAJIT SINGHA ROY, RAJKISHORE MAHATO – This study examines the migration patterns of the Jogi community – a nomadic, unregistered group found in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh – using a multi-sited ethnography conducted between 2021 and 2022 among 1,211 individuals in eleven urban, peri-urban, and rural settlements. The research demonstrates that Jogi migration is…
Nutritional Status and Physical Growth of School-Going Children (6–10 Years): A Comparative Study of Boys and Girls in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal
By: SUDIPTA DAS – Childhood is a crucial period for physical growth and development and reflects the overall health and nutritional status of a population. This study aimed to assess the physical growth and nutritional status of school-going children aged 6–10 years in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. A cross-sectional study was…
‘Theme Puja’: The Worship of Goddess Durga and the Revival of Tradition under Modernization: A Cultural Anthropological Study in South Dum Dum, Kolkata, West Bengal
By: SATARUPA SARKAR, ABHIJIT DAS – Durga Puja holds profound emotional and cultural significance for the Bengali community in West Bengal, transcending mere festivities to embody deep-rooted beliefs and traditions. The idol of Goddess Durga, depicted with ten arms, each symbolizing distinct virtues and attributes, serves as a focal point for various interpretations. An anthropological…
Correlates of Human Development: Health, Hygiene, Nutrition, Education, and Income in Kolkata, West Bengal
By: SWASTIKA MUKHERJEE – Human development is a multidimensional concept that extends beyond economic growth and, thereby, improvements in quality of life for individual well-being. Among the most critical correlates of human development are health, hygiene, nutrition, education, and income – each contributing significantly to enhancing human capabilities and opportunities. Health forms the foundation of…
The Funerary Practices among the Tagins of Arunachal Pradesh
By: TARH RAMYA, ASIN CHARU – This paper examines the funerary practices of the Tagins of Arunachal Pradesh by analyzing the various rituals performed when someone dies. It begins with Simi Danam, a ritual conducted before death, especially for elders, which both honors the individual and prepares them for what is to come. The study…
Prevalence of hypertension among Liangmai individuals aged 12 to 25 years in Khunkhu Naga Village, Manipur
By: THOUNAOJAM SARJU CHANU, HUIDROM SURAJ SINGH – Hypertension is one of the fastest-growing public health concerns and leads to complications in adults that can cause chronic diseases and premature death. It is a major concern not only because of its rising prevalence but also because evidence suggests a correlation between childhood hypertension and adult…
The Buttocks of the House: Matrilineal Succession Among the Aghem of Wum, North West Cameroon – Ancestral Logic, Social Function, and the Challenge of Contemporary Reform
Aghem, Cameroon Grassfields, Customary law, inheritance, kinship, matrilineal succession, Menchum Division, Modernity, seeh’ndugu, Women, WumBy: CALISTUS ABANG – The Aghem of Wum in Menchum Division are among the most ethnographically distinct groups in the Cameroon Grassfields, due in part to their long history of matrilineal succession – a method of determining descent and transferring property and leadership through the female line. The Aghem term for the matrilineage, ‘seeh’ndugu’, means…
The Entanglement of Nature and Market: An Anthropological Analysis of Environmental Hazard and Economic Precarity in Kashmir’s Horticultural Economy
double disaster, drought, farmer distress, frost, hailstorm, Kashmir apples, market failure, natural disasters, no rates outside, snowfallBy: RASHID AHMAD RATHER – Kashmir is renowned for its apples, a crop that sustains thousands of families whose livelihoods, marriages, education, and daily needs depend on orchard income. Today, however, apple growers face a severe crisis caused by two interconnected forces. The first is environmental disruption: hailstorms that destroy blossoms, untimely snowfall that buries…
Syncretism and Shared Sanctity: An Anthropological Study of the Reshmol Sahib Shrine in Anantnag, Kashmir
Hindu-Muslim coexistence, Kashmir, Reshmol Sahib shrine, shared sacred spaces, Sufi shrine anthropology, Syncretism, Urs festivalBy: RASHID AHMAD RATHER – This anthropological study examines the Reshmol Sahib shrine in Anantnag, South Kashmir, as a site of shared worship for Hindus and Muslims. The shrine is dedicated to Hazrat Baba Hyder Reshi, a Sufi saint of the Kashmiri Reshi order. During the annual six-day Urs festival, devotees from both communities participate…
Review ofLuna Sabastian’s book “Fascism in India: Race, Caste, and Hindutva”
By: PRABHAKAR K.B. – AbstractThis review examines Luna Sabastian’s Fascism in India: Race, Caste, and Hindutva, a groundbreaking theoretical intervention that redefines the study of global authoritarianism. Challenging Eurocentric frameworks, Sabastian argues that Hindutva is an original and generative form of fascism, rather than a belated derivative of European models. She introduces the concept of…