Shamanism is an indispensable cultural trait widely practiced by the communities across the caste groups living in Kullu Valley. However, the role of caste groups in shamanistic practices has undergone transformation in the past few decades. Because of the more exposure to the outside world as well as constitutional provisions for the socio-economic upliftment of lower castes, existing traditional social structures have come under constant threat which also challenge shamanistic practices and beliefs. Historically, caste played an important role in shaping the socio-cultural landscape of the region, twice born castes holding higher positions in shamanistic performances. Although lower castes also played a significant role in shamanistic performances, they often faced discrimination from higher castes. The shaman and priest commonly hold positions of authority and power in the community, but their influence is diminishing in the face of changing social structures. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to discover the transition of shamanism in context of changing caste dynamics and new developmental forces in Kullu Valley.
