Spirit Possession

Dr. Valk’s and Dr. Lyngdoh’s presentations were FASCINATING! I wish they could have come to our school so we could hear their lectures in person instead of over skype. The possessed people of India differ from the tales we have read because these are real life people—we as the audience were able to see photographs of them and match a face to the Sangkini. Instead of simply reading about spirit possession folktales and dismissing them as purely folktales, it is very much alive within the culture. In our modern society, folktales are for fun, but the Sangkini abide by them and have developed their livelihoods around the tales. My knowledge of fairytales has been enriched further! I want to know more and more about spirit possession. Firsthand accounts bring the stories to life and instill the realism element.