Romuva: Lithuania’s Resurgent Baltic Native Faith

The provided text offers a comprehensive overview of Romuva, a contemporary Lithuanian Baltic pagan religion. It traces the movement's origins from ancient Baltic tribal faiths and its modern revival as a form of national identity and resistance, especially under Soviet occupation. The sources explain Romuva's core beliefs, which include a polytheistic pantheon featuring gods like Dievas and Perkūnas, deep reverence for nature, and the ethical principle of Darna (harmony). It also details the faith's ritual practices, emphasizing seasonal festivals like Rasos and Vėlinės, and the centrality of fire and traditional folk songs (dainos). Finally, the text extensively covers Romuva's decades-long struggle for state recognition in Lithuania, culminating in a landmark victory in 2024, and discusses scholarly debates regarding its authenticity and its complex relationship with Lithuanian identity, including unique connections to Vedic traditions.

Research done with the help of artificial intelligence, and presented by two AI-generated hosts.