article

Ancient funeral ceremonies of the Lepchas

Eastern anthropologist5 (1)Published In 1952 • Pages: 27-40

By: Nebesky-Wojkowitz, René de.

Abstract
This paper describes the ancient funeral ceremonies of the Lepchas as preserved by oral tradition and perhaps still being practiced in remote areas of Sikkim. The author also discusses the Lepcha conception of the human soul and life after death. There are notes on Lepcha diviners and healers as well as the spread of Tibetan culture into Sikkim.
Subjects
Burial practices and funerals
Eschatology
Spirits and gods
Magicians and diviners
Mythology
Acculturation and culture contact
Shamans and psychotherapists
Special burial practices and funerals
Ethnic stratification
Life and death
Localized kin groups
Revelation and divination
Missions
Animism
Priesthood
General character of religion
Regulation of marriage
Cultural participation
Ethnogeography
Inheritance
Social readjustments to death
Ethnogeography
Ingroup antagonisms
Theory of disease
Status, role, and prestige
Avoidance and taboo
Preventive medicine
culture
Lepcha
HRAF PubDate
2003
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Central Asia
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Robert Lee ; 1958
Field Date
1950-1951
Coverage Date
1950-1951
Coverage Place
Sikkim, India
Notes
R. Nebesky de Wojkowitz
Includes bibliographical references
LCCN
59030548
LCSH
Lepcha (South Asian people)