The Forest of Symbols Embodied in the Tholung Sacred Landscape of North Sikkim, India

摘要: The paper explores the forest of symbols and cultural politics embodied in Tholung sacred landscape North Sikkim, India. Represen­tations Lepchas as guardians grove are gaining ground contemporary context their revival regional eth­nopolitics. To nuance these perspectives, this study furthers socio­ecological debate on conservation, socio-religious fencing, mediating role state. Sacred groves landscapes often perceived an example indigenous management practices antithesis sanctuary rationally managed by department government. I emphasise that conservation is a latent consequence while idea site pre­serves keeps it inviolate. argue constitutes nerve centre Lepcha life, identity, embodies nationalist prac­tices former Kingdom Sikkim. As sanctified site, legiti­mised authority Namgyal dynasty ruled Sikkim until its incorporation into India 1975. explain how rituals performed Lep­chas regenerate human body, land, ancestral connections Lepchas, identity. community, state conjoined locus legitimises power sustains ethnic-nationalism region.