From Rituals to Regulations: A Case Study of Intersections of Religion, Tradition, and Customary Norms in Arunachal Pradesh

This article explores the complex relationship between religion, tradition, and customary norms, focusing on how religious rituals evolve into normative frameworks that govern behavior. While traditions are often informal and rooted in local culture, religion provides them with legitimacy and symbolic power. Religious ideas can reinforce, alter, or even erase traditional customs, transforming them into legal and moral codes. Using classical sociological theories and a case study from Wasathong village in Arunachal Pradesh, this article demonstrates how religion shapes the formation and erosion of customary laws. It concludes by emphasizing the dynamic interplay between spiritual beliefs and customary practices in diverse socio-cultural contexts.