Abstract :
Belief in the existence of supernatural powers and day-to-day unexplainable
experiences has led the Nyishis into believing in other than the material visible world
i.e. in the invisible spiritual world or supernatural power. Generally, the people are
found to establish a close relationship with the spiritual world either by controlling
or overpowering the spirit by enchanting or practicing some techniques and
canalising the power or by offering ritual or worship to propitiate the supernatural
power for acquisition of the thing or object desired. However, nowadays, there are
clear indications that the Christian religious ideas have penetrated into the
traditional religion of the people in the Nyishi villages. However, there are still many
who retain their traditional religious beliefs and ritual practices which are
altogether free from Christian influence. The Nyishis believes in the existence of a
number of uyub, the spirits that there are in the jungles, on the lofty hills, on the top
of huge or giant trees call Sangrik Sangney (Banyan tree), in rivers, and inside and
outside the houses and these spirits often hurt human beings. Most of the Uyub are
malevolent in character and cause harm to the human beings.
