Factors Affecting Utilization of Spiritual Healing in Urban Areas of Pokhara Metropolitian City, Kaski
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Department of Anthropology
Abstract
Traditional/spiritual healing was the foremost and the only option of eliminating human health problems in ancient society. Although there is miraculous success and development of modern medicines, people in this twenty first century are using spiritual healing worldwide. Spiritual healing refers to the practice where unseen power is used to healing, no any herb or medicines are used.
This study was conducted on Motivating factors for utilizing spiritual healing in urban areas, in Kaski district. The general objectives of the research was, to find out the factors that motivates the people of urban areas for seeking spiritual healing. According to findings, Spiritual healing is massively prevalent in urban areas of Pokhara and lekhnath city. Peoples are motivated because of their preoccupied concept of supernatural causes, like spirit, ghost, bokshi,
evil eyes, masan and curses of ancestors (pitridev) etc are responsible for developing illness in an individual.
Many people have experienced the failure of modern medicine and the success of spiritual healing. The type of illness for which people prefer spiritual healer are basically near to psychosomatic illness where patient felt suffered, but there is no any disease diagnosed by modern doctors. Respondents were highly dissatisfied with the procedural delay and expensive test of modern medical facilities. The money and value of time wasted in receiving modern health service is also playing role to push people towards traditional/spiritual healing.
The availability of spiritual healer nearby and in a minimal cost; lack of economic right and lack of higher education among patient is also a factor for the utilization of spiritual healing in study area. The spiritual healers' practice of referring patient to modern facilities according to severity/sensitivity makes the spiritual healers more trustable for people; so they are motivated to go first to spiritual healer.