Living Spirituality of Glaciers: Indigenous Cosmologies and Environmental Care in Hunza

Abstract

Gilgit Baltistan is considered the hub of glaciers since the snow-covered mountain ranges of Himalaya, Karakorum and Hindukush are situated in the region.  Though a lot of work has been done on the glaciers of Gilgit Baltistan but an important aspect of customary laws and rituals of celebrating, honoring and praising glaciers that is directly linked with the local narrative of the spirituality of glaciers is absent in the archives and in the process of knowledge production. The inhabitants of GB consider glacier as a living spiritual entity that is not ‘nature’ only. This paper can help us consider what the environment is (in a fundamental ontological way) in relation to what it means to people. This specific work presents the case studies of three generations how they perceive, praise and honor glaciers. Firstly, the story of a local spiritual figure (111 years old) explains his 85 years journey of meditation with glaciers and how he witnessed the impact of climate change on glaciers in the last eight decades. Secondly, a local environmental activist (spent 14 years in prison because of the ecological issues) explains the struggle of locals in saving the glaciers and thirdly, the story of a young local musician highlights how the younger generation pay tribute to glaciers by celebrating ‘high- altitude’ music festivals.

Keywords:  Spirituality, Glaciers, Indigenous Cosmologies, Environmental Care, Hunza