This film documents for the first time the spirit and deity possession seances and the sacred Khalikhane fire-walking ceremony that occurred in a Hindu village in the Kathmandu Valley. It is an audio-visual sensory and multi-storied exploration of experiences of traumatic loss and suffering, and the transformative effects of communal ceremony and ritual healing. The documentary captures the immersive rituals, music, and dance of the Khalikhane ceremony, and the embodied, possession testimonies of ancestral spirits who describe their unnatural, often violent, deaths that have left them trapped as wandering spirits. Seeking recognition and release from their earthly existence, these spirits cause family members illness and misfortune. A shaman calls these spirits to possess family members, describe the events of their death, and enter the fire-walking ceremony to be released to the divine ancestral realm. These events bring family members relief from everyday suffering and misfortune, help process their grief, and support the spiritual progress of their loved ones’ souls. This documentary is a testament to the power of ritual and community to heal and process suffering caused by the traumatic loss of family members.
Biostatement, Ramesh Khadka, Documentary Director
I am a Nepali documentary filmmaker working on issues of social concern and development in Nepal. I utilize various social and ethnographic approaches that draw on the power of human storytelling to present the perspectives and voices of the people involved. I have traveled throughout the country, especially to remote areas in the mountains to document the realities and stories of human struggle, social justice, and the power of local culture and community to give meaning and support to individuals. As a multicultural and mountainous country, Nepal has many stories and social conditions that are never told and demand attention. I have worked to bring attention to these issues through documenting the human experience and struggle in these circumstances.
I have been engaged in documentary filmmaking throughout my career. I find video is a powerful medium through which I can reach people in Nepal and the world with compelling stories and documentation, that have garnered support for communities.
I have a mass communication and journalism background. I have developed my skills over years in work on documentaries and in various courses on filmmaking in China, Thailand, Kenya and on production and post-production at World View International Foundation, Nepal. I have a master’s in communication and journalism. I am a Ph.D. Candidate at Prince Songkla University, Thailand.