Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

vForest being the most important resource for the welfare of humankind, provide many tangible and The Darlong community, a sub-tribe of the Kuki ethnic group in Tripura, observes death and mourning rituals that reflect their unique customs and internal spiritual beliefs. The Darlong community views death not merely as the cessation of life but as a transition to an alternate state of existence. This paper examines the traditional and contemporary death rituals particularly funeral arrangements and community involvement among the Darlong people, along with the effects of modernization on these customs. Blade smoke, sanguine offerings, and mortality. This extensive qualitative study of Darlong death rituals, guided by the theories of sociologists Émile Durkheim, Arnold van Gennep, and Victor Turner, situates these rituals within broader theoretical constructs of rites of passage and social cohesion. The paper also examines the impact of Christianity on indigenous traditions and the evolution of Darlong practices over time. This study elucidates how such rituals reinforce familial bonds and preserve community identity.