Table 2 Categorization of cultural services
Customs, rituals, activities performed | Intrinsic to visitors | Custom locally known as | Cultural benefits | Purpose of customs, rituals, activities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Animal sacrifice | Personal, Social capital | Nalkomba | Inspiration, Health and well-being | Animal is sacrificed to please the deity in order to ensure wellbeing |
Conciliation of quarrels | Social capital | - | Building social contacts | Conflict resolution |
Seeking Consent from gods | Personal | Kaul | Physical achievements | Consent of gods is sought before executing any important task. For example when any tree or resource from the grove has to be utilized either for urgent need in the village or for construction of temple of the deity, or when permission for marriage of children is required, kaul is demanded from the deity. Flowers or grains are applied on the forehead of the deity. If they fall on the right side of the idol, it is considered as positive indication by the deity and vice versa |
Religious ceremonies | Social capital | - | Inspiration, Building social contacts | - |
Folklores about the sacred groves | Social capital | - | - | Passing of traditional knowledge |
Using plants from the sacred grove in daily religious rituals or folk medicine | Personal | - | Personal knowledge, Social benefit | For curing people or livestock |
Oracle or Possession | - | Angatyene | - | Few members are blessed by the divine spirit They then advise the people from the village and address their grievances |