Victim of Superstition: Nepali photographer takes on ‘Ghost Festival’

Onlinekhabar Monday, September 12, 2016

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Many people in Nepal are still superstitious and believe in supernatural powers. Centuries-old conservative beliefs are still deep-rooted in social and cultural structures of the society.

Kanti Yadav is one of the many women victims of violence in the name of superstition associated with the Kamala River Cultural Pilgrimages in Nepal.Another woman believes that she is ill because of a spell placed on her by an evil person or family god “kul deveta” in her village. After visiting a ‘witch doctor’ on the morning of the ‘Ghost Festival’ she is found in a state of trance.(right)

These beliefs many times lead to violence in the society whether it is physical or mental. Most of the times, the victims are weak, poor and single women.

Kanti Yadav is a 103 year-old widow from a village of Janakpur. She hits herself with as stick as she feels humiliated. The witch doctor of the same village blames Brikeah Yadav’s illness on her. He humiliates Yadav in Public.

One of the examples of such superstition that is attached with cultural celebration is the ‘Ghost Festival’ that takes place on the banks of Kamala River on the full moon of the Nepali month of Kartik.

Kanti Yadav pleads she is innocent as a group of people led by witch doctors accuses her of being a witch. She is scorned and ridiculed.

Thousands of pilgrims arrive at the Kamala River on the eve of Kartik full moon with the witch doctors (shamans). The belief is that they will help them cure illness caused by their family deity, or by evil people in their village.

Kanti Yadav is exploited as a social outcast by the Dhamis of the village. She is discriminated against for being an old woman with a physical disability (difference) who has been alone since her husband’s death and is powerless to defend herself. The Dhami is using her to suggest that he has superior power with his methods to remove supposed evil spirits from her. November 6 2014, Janakpur, Nepal. — Kanti Yadav is exploited as a social outcast. She is discriminated against for being an old woman with a physical disability. She is alone since her husband’s death and is powerless. The Dhami is using her to suggest that he has superior power with his methods to remove supposed evil spirits from her.

The faith of thousands of pilgrims place on the witch doctors during this festival shows how people believe in superstition. The centuries-old conservative belief is integrated into cultural activities by the shamans to maintain their superior position in the society.

Kanti Yadav is just a representative character.

Photos and text courtesy: PJ Club. Nabin Baral’s ‘Victim of Superstition’ was adjudged the best Photo Story of the Year in Global IME Bank Nepal Photo Contest. Photos from November 2014.