‘Dancing in Fire’ delves into freeing wandering spirits

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, jun,1: ‘Dancing in Fire’ which delves into the Nepali tradition of ‘Bayu Utarne, Khalikhane,’ a ritual of the Hindu community in Nepal to liberate the wandering soul of those who met a violent death, has already been nominated for a dozen international film festivals in different parts of the world.

The film tells the story of Khadka village located in Jitpurphedi of Changunarayan Municipality, Bhaktapur. This documentary vividly deals with a ritual that is performed to bring salvation to the souls of those who have died unnaturally or violently and are believed to be wandering spirits. 

‘Dancing in Fire’ vibrantly captures the sacred and culturally significant rituals and ceremonies of the Khalikhane fire-walking ceremony. This practice took place in a rural Hindu community where there were widespread illnesses, economic loss and social crises that were disrupting community life.

The film documents testimonies by villagers who described in detail the events of inappropriate, often violent deaths of family members. These forms of death led to their spirits wandering and suffering, as they were trapped in an attachment to the earthly realm.

Villagers believed that these spirits were the source of their troubles, as they sought to be recognised and freed to progress to the divine realm.

Fifty-four households in the village provided extensive materials, social and ritual resources for two months to support the elaborate possession seances and testimonies, and the powerful Khalikhane fire-walking ceremony that aimed to transform the plight of deceased family spirits. These ritual events also helped families to process the profound and longstanding grief of family memories and histories of unresolved, traumatic deaths of family members.

The rituals, possession seances and fire-walking ceremony have never been filmed in their entirety because they have been kept hidden in families due to the sensitive family histories and suffering spirits they reveal, as well as the need for the proper enactment of the rituals and the requirement of the participants to be close lineage relations. The production of this film was only possible because the director of the film is a member of the clan of the village and permission was granted to him by the leaders of the village.

These rituals show how profound cultural practices, and the commitment of families and community were able to relieve misfortune, heal illness and process the grief of the traumatic loss of loved ones, as they also restored their ancestors to their divine destiny. The success of the Khalikhane fire-walking ceremony was recognised in a joyous, community-wide celebration.

American Anthropologist Alfred Pach, who has been doing research on this Nepali tradition ‘Bayu Utarne, Khalikhane’ for the last four decades, is the producer of this documentary.

The theme of the documentary is based on a very belief that if a member of a clan dies unnaturally, he/she turns out to be a wandering spirit, according to the Hindu tradition. Their soul is given salvation through a shamanistic method by invoking the wandering soul into a relative and making him dance in the fire and speak up for his/her unfulfilled wishes.

Premiered in the Ethno International Film Festival in Paris in March this year, this documentary has been nominated for the Cannes World Film Festival, another renowned film festival in France. Similarly, it has also been nominated for the Brandenburg International Film Festival in Germany. The documentary was screened at City Hall in the Kathmandu International Film Festival which kicked off on Wednesday (May 29) in Kathmandu, after participating in various international film festivals.

Earlier, it received an Outstanding Documentary Award in the Singapore International Film Fair, the Best Documentary Award in the Swedish International Motion Picture and the Best Documentary Award in Phuket International Film Festival. Similarly, this documentary has also been premiered at the Druk International Film Festival, Bhutan, Dubai International Cine Carnival and the South Asian International Film Festival Florida.

This documentary will also be screened in the Film Society of Summit, New Jersey, in coming June 8 2024 and Nepal-American International Film Festival to be held from June 20 to 23, according to Khadka.

Researcher Alfred said that the vibrant tapestry of Nepali cultures, teeming with fascinating human experiences, inspired him to produce this film. “Nepal’s richly diverse cultures, overflowing with captivating human stories, fueled my passion to create this film,” said Alfred. The unique Nepali tradition which remains unknown to many people around the globe has enticed him to direct this documentary, said director Khadka. Meanwhile, he expressed happiness with the acclaim it earned in the international arena.