Prevalence of Sorcery and Animistic Ontologies among the Mal Pahadiya Tribe: An Ethnographic study

Author(s)	Mr. Tanishk Kumar
Country	India
Abstract	This paper examines the continuing practice of animistic witchcraft among the Mal Pahadiya tribe of Jharkhand, its perceived connection to disease, and the social conditions that foster these beliefs. Traditionally, male religious leaders perform animistic witchcraft based healing, in this community. Tribal members often attribute illness to evil spirits and seek witchcraft for relief. The practice remains prevalent in regions lacking access to basic amenities, education, and scientific knowledge, leading to superstition and social stigma. The government's initiatives and legal measures to eliminate witchcraft are discussed, with particular focus on how innocent women are branded as witches and the underlying motivations for the practice. According to the 2011 Indian census, tribal communities constitute approximately 8.6% of the nation's population, often referred to as Adivasi, Girijan, or Vanavasi, and regarded as indigenous or autochthonous peoples. These groups typically reside beyond mainstream Indian religious traditions, venerating nature as animists who attribute misfortunes to malevolent spirits, with some adopting Hinduism or Christianity.
Keywords	Adivasi, animistic witchcraft, evil spirits, Mal Pahadiya, Hinduism or Christianit.
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-04-27
DOI	https://doi.org/10.63363/aijfr.2026.v07i02.5249

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