Beyond Folklore: Naga Traditions, Practices, and Social Dynamics in Easterine Kire’s Spirit Nights

Abstract

Customs and traditions are the shared practices, beliefs, and behaviors passed down through generations within a culture. Culture is an evolving system that shapes how people think, act, and interact with the world around them. It is transmitted across generations, influencing everything from language to religion. Culture encompasses the shared behaviors, beliefs, and values that characterize  a particular group or society. Easterine Kire’s Spirit Nights offers a profound exploration of Naga cultural life, folklore, spirituality and communal practices within the Chang Naga tribe. Rooted in an intricate web of oral customs, spiritual beliefs, and communal rituals, the novel becomes a powerful vessel for preserving and expressing Indigenous ways of life. Indigenous humanities is an interdisciplinary field that centers the worldviews, knowledge systems, cultural expressions, and lived experiences of Indigenous people. It combines the critical approaches of humanities such as literature, history and art with Indigenous perspectives and values. The novel chronicles the aftermath of a violated taboo that plunges the people of Shumang Laangyu Sang, into darkness, both literal and symbolic. Through the experiences of Tola, a revered elder and dream receiver, and her grandson Namu, the narrative foregrounds the interrelation of traditions, practices, and social dynamics that sustain communal identity. This paper analyses how Indigenous Naga cosmology, knowledge and rituals play a vital role in sustaining the balance of the community.