Witnessing a Lepcha Shaman Ritual in Sikkim

In a dense forest in North Sikkim, a group of people witnessed a special Lepcha shaman ritual.

The Lepcha community believes in nature worship and sees mountains, forests, and rivers as divine.

The ritual, performed by a young shaman, is meant to welcome the spring season and bring prosperity.

The community is deeply connected to nature and resists the building of dams on the sacred Teesta River, which they believe blocks the path to salvation for departed souls.

During the ritual, the young shaman entered a trance-like state and interacted with the spirit world.

The experience highlighted the community's strong bond with nature and their resistance to development projects that threaten their way of life.