Mountain spirits of Spiti

Over the last 10 years, Dr Jane Orton has visited the remote Spiti Valley in the Himalayas to speak to the local Bhoti people about their lore and spiritual beliefs.

In the many villages across the valley, stories about the deities are consistent from place to place but also transfigured. She hears about deities like lhas, powerful beings that have been incorporated into Buddhism. Lhas serve many purposes from protection and curing illnesses to ensuring water security by bringing snow.

Jane hears about biyuls – hidden lands – where people are like those of Spiti valley, except they have no salt and only certain people can see and hear them. And she chases stories of the figure of Balu Thukangbu, a wish granting entity.

Spiti Valley is rapidly changing, but its hidden deities remain a part of the spiritual life of the region. With increased access to technology and rising tourism, the Bhoti people are not only finding that their deities interact with technology but also that their stories are being replaced by it.

A Whistledown Production for BBC World Service.