Abstract
In the last few decades, the studies on community power structures in India have gained renewed scholarly interest. While the modern power institutions (MPIs) have significantly eroded the traditional structures, several tribal communities continue to exhibit a strong and enduring presence of traditional power institutions (TPIs), reflecting their cultural resilience and legitimacy. This article examines the role of TPIs in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, where they coexist with MPIs and function within their distinct spheres of influence and legitimacy. The authority of TPIs is primarily anchored in deities, their divine status, and related myths and rituals. Almost all the villages have their own deities and Shoo Khomling, a council of the deity, which embodies legislative, executive, and judicial authority, playing a crucial role in dispute resolution and community governance. These power structures enjoy the cultural validation and tacit political and administrative recognition, making them ever relevant.
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