معرفی
Dr. Astrid Zotter serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Cultural and Religious History of South Asia (Classical Indology) at Heidelberg University's South Asian Institute, where she joined the faculty in 2023.
She received her PhD in Indology and Religious Studies from Leipzig University in 2010 after completing her studies there. Her academic journey has been deeply connected to South Asian studies since her doctoral work.
Dr. Zotter's research focuses on Hindu traditions and Nepalese history and languages, distinguished by her integration of textual scholarship with ethnographic fieldwork and Digital Humanities methodologies. She has published extensively on rituals, festivals, and goddess worship in South Asia, with particular attention to Durgā traditions and Nepalese cultural practices. Her work significantly contributes to Heidelberg University's Field of Focus III 'Cultural Dynamics in Globalised Worlds' and the 'Transforming Cultural Heritage' Flagship Initiative.
Her major research projects include 'Durgā and the Kings of Nepal: The Rise of Dasaĩ as a State Festival,' 'Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal' with the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 'Anthropology of Inscriptions: Memory and Cultural Heritage in the Public Sphere,' 'Navarātri, Navarātra and Durgāpūjā in South Asia and beyond,' and 'Postcolonial Restitution in the Digital Age.'
Dr. Zotter teaches language courses in Nepali and Sanskrit, along with foundational courses in Indology methodology and specialized seminars including 'Religion in Nepal' and 'The Navaratri festival: Curating an interactive walk through the city' (co-taught with Ute Hüsken). Her teaching emphasizes both linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding of South Asian religious traditions.
