REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE OF TRIPURA: INDIGENOUS CULTURAL PRACTICES AS PSYCHOTHERAPY

Abstract

Tripura, a northeastern Indian state, is home to a vibrant mosaic of indigenous tribes whose cultural heritage encompassing festivals, dances, crafts, and rituals serves not only as a marker of identity but also as a therapeutic framework for mental well-being. This paper explores the representation of this heritage through tourism, conservation efforts, and modern media, while examining how practices like shamanic rituals and ethnomedicinal remedies function as indigenous forms of psychotherapy. Drawing on ethnographic and ethnobotanical sources, it highlights the Tripuri, Reang, and Jamatia tribes' traditions, underscoring their role in addressing psychological distress amid modernization's challenges. The analysis reveals opportunities for culturally sensitive mental health interventions that integrate these practices.