In India, mental ill-health is the biggest factor contributing to the overall burden of disease, particularly affecting structurally disadvantaged groups. The access to mental health care is limited and predominantly confined to urban spaces. In rural areas, the government's District Mental Health program is operational, but it faces several obstacles such as a lack of mental health literacy and the far locations of hospitals, which hinder access to care for all individuals. However, in India, like in many other South Asian countries, there is a prevalent belief in traditional healing methods, and people frequently seek their services when experiencing any form of hardship or mental distress. In his classic work, Arthur Kleinman argued that mental illness cannot be comprehensively understood without considering the cultural context in which it is experienced. He asserts that culture and social environment shapes how individuals perceive, experience, express and respond to mental distress. Therefore, to gain a holistic understanding of illness, research must account for the cultural beliefs, values and practices that influence people’s experiences of mental health. Many scholars have emphasized the importance of understanding social determinant of health. Nevertheless, culture remains neglected and is only mentioned to reflect racial, ethnic, national or language differences. Cultural determinant of health is significant in understanding how culture, religion, spirituality, social norms shapes beliefs and behaviour of people. It is present in everyday lives of people and is passed down from generation to generation. However, it is not static, it also changes and transforms with time. This study will demonstrate the significant role of cultural practices in the healing journey of an individual, which I refer to as "अपना ख्याल रखना ", an idiom that translates to "taking care of themselves". The paper includes data from an anthropological investigation conducted in the Johar valley of Uttarakhand, specifically in Munshiyari. The Munshiyari region consists of 218 villages, with a combined population of 46,520 according to the 2011 census. It is located at the base of the great Himalayan Mountain range at an elevation of about 2200 m. The region is also home to Shauka community, a tribal community historically part of Indo-Tibetan trading activity. Since 1975, after Indo-China war all commerce came to a halt and brought major change in livelihood activities of shaukas. In today's time, many people from the Shauka community are in government administrative services and migrated to cities. This shift may have altered the manner in which individuals engage in their cultural activities, but it remains a significant aspect of their life. People in the rural region maintain a strong conviction in the existence of fairies and spirits, and the practice of rituals for protection and welfare is integral to their daily life. There is a strong belief of praying to local deity for any distress and there are specific rituals catering to specific issues. For instance, among the tribal group the ritual of Jagar is performed during unexpected crises, such as accidental deaths in the family. Similarly, Aeiries and Ancharies are performed when it is believed that a spirit has possessed a person, and their health begins to deteriorate. The study suggests that rituals are part of cultural practices, and their performance promotes well-being. These practices have made the life of people living in difficult terrain of Himalayas easier to live, promoting a sense of community and belonginess, which are crucial for mental well-being. It is, therefore, important for mental health policies to acknowledge these traditional practices and rituals for promoting the idea of ‘taking care of themselves’.