Fourteenth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

Northeast India is very complex and heterogeneous region and naturally the food practices are also varied. Therefore it is very difficult to provide standardised generalizations for the whole region. Consequently I have made an attempt to bring out certain common features of the various food practices prevalent among indigenous communities of the hill areas of northeast region. Some of these common features were the widespread practice of feasts. Various types of feasts had always been organized among these communities. Rice-beer was served during all these feasts. The feasts of Merit fulfilled an extremely important social and economic function. These practices formed an important aspect of whole way of life of the indigenous communities. When the missionaries entered these areas for spreading the message of gospel these practices became the target of their critique. These were forbidden by them. Initially the tribes resisted the missionaries’ attempt but gradually with the indigenization of the christianity and widespread acceptance of the new faith these food practices got eroded. This paper is based on archival research as well as oral sources.