• Watienla

Belief constitute the totality of an individual’s knowledge, including what people consider as facts, opinions, or hypotheses, as well as faith. Individuals in a society have specific beliefs, but they also share collective values. Religious beliefs and concepts are expressed in the form of symbols and rituals that influence the individual, and communicate one’s attitude towards the world of nature, and one’s fellow beings. Traditionally, the Naga people of Nagaland in Northeast India had a concept of belief in God and spirits embodying both malevolent and benevolent characteristics. Nagas considered benevolent spirits to be responsible for man’s well being and blessings, whilst malevolent spirits were responsible for causing suffering to man. Accordingly, the health care activities of the Nagas are embedded in the traditional beliefs, customs, folklore, taboos, prescription, etc. enacted through healers/medicine-man. Healing rituals employed for invoking the intervention of supernatural forces are an integral component of the treatment procedure. As such at every step of life they put religion into action in such ways as sacrifices, performance of rites and abstention from routine chores. The study indicates that the primary conception of traditional Naga belief converged on three aspects, that is, to escape the wrath of malevolent spirits from disease and death, to ward off the evil spirits through pacification, and conciliation to maximize good harvest and win their good will.

Appeasement; lycanthrope; Nagas; omens; spirits; taboos

"Traditional Belief System And Health Practices Of Tribal People: A Case Of The Naga People In Northeast India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no.552-558, June 2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907I68.pdf

"Traditional Belief System And Health Practices Of Tribal People: A Case Of The Naga People In Northeast India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 6, page no. pp552-558, June 2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1907I68.pdf