About the Book
This study is an outcome of two decades long, close observation and detailed inquiry of folk religion of Punjab. Dr Bhatti has presented folk religion in a new light by placing it in the broader context of social structure and cultural consciousness. Traditionally folk cults are viewed as degenerate forms of organised religions or remnants of old religious traditions. In the present study these are viewed as processes of alternative conceptualization. The basic premise is that folk religion is a collective intellectual exercise, which creates, transforms and even inverts traditional symbols to comprehend and explain the complexities of experiences. For the purpose of this study, the author has selected three major cults of Northern India, namely the cult of Gugga Zahir Pir, the cult of Sakhi Sarvar and the cult of Seetla Mata. Collectively these cults represent the crux of the folk religion of Punjab. The legends, rituals, beliefs and other practices associated with these cults are incisively analyzed by using various theoretical insights of Sociology, Anthropology, psycho-analysis and post-structuralist approaches. Though no given model of analysis has been strictly followed, yet the author, particularly in the interpretation of rituals and symbols has creatively used Victor Turner’s model of dialectics of structure and anti-structure. It is hoped that the book will stimulate those who are interested in the understanding and interpretation of religion, culture, folk lore and study of symbols. It will be useful for the students of Sociology of religion, Indology and Punjabi culture.
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About the Author / Editor
Harvinder Singh Bhatti (1954) is M.A. in Sociology, M.Phil. in Anthropological Linguistics and Ph.D. in Sociology. He has published papers on a variety of topics, like Sociology of religion, Sociology of language, Semiotics and Political Sociology. He has wide range intellectual interests in religion, politics, culture, language and mass media. Presently he teaches Sociology in the Department of Sociology and Social anthropology at Punjabi University Patiala.
