Fish is a very important source of protein, providing essential amino acids that our bodies cannot synthesize. These proteins contribute to muscle growth, repair, and maintenance. Additionally, fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. These fatty acids are crucial for brain development, heart health, and reducing inflammation. It also improve cognitive function. Various research studies found Omega-3 acids in fish have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic properties. They help reduce blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels and prevent blood clots. By promoting cardiovascular health, fish consumption significantly lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular complications. Fish is also rich source of vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining healthy vision and boost our immune system as well. Fish is the cheapest and most easily digestible animal protein and was obtained from natural sources from time immemorial for consumption. However, due to over exploitation and pollution, the availability of fish in natural waters have declined considerably, forcing scientists to adopt various methods to increase its production causing harmful to health as well.1 Fish has been an important part of many communities cuisine for thousands of years especially in Asia and it played a significant role in their culture and society. For many communities, fish is not only a staple food but also a symbol of prosperity, good luck and abundance. Fish plays an important role in food during various festivals and sharing a fish meal represents family, clan unity and community spirit. Various traditional recipes and cooking methods are unique in itself to various communities preserving their cultural heritage which are deep rooted in Bishnupriya Manipuri culture and tradition as well. This paper focused on fish based customs and beliefs in Bishnupriya Manipur’s. A study of this kind presumes to be assorted for lack of enough written records and materials, yet attempt has been made to organize the paper mainly from few published works, web materials, personal observations and findings from interview conducted by the author. All aspects related to fish based customs and beliefs are not covered in this paper, leaving scope for further study. Bishnupriya Manipuri’s love eating fish and fish have always played an important role in their culture, customs and beliefs which evolved and passed on from generation to generation. There are many rituals that involve fish as a component (Table 1). Bishnupriya Manipuri’s follow Gauriya Vaishnavism and avoid all forms of meat items except fish but in all religious programmes related to Vaishnavism fish is strictly prohibited.
Table1: Fish Based Customs and Beliefs
| Customs and Beliefs | Period | Purpose |
| Chapok (confinement during childbirth) | After childbirth | After childbirth, the mother called chapokuli is offered smoked snake head soranabas testudineus, the climbing perch and less spicy cooked heteropneustes fossilis etc for proper maintenance of diet and good health. |
| Pachor bath (After marriage ceremony feast) | Third, fifth or seventh day | Normally on third/fifth day after marriage, parents of bride arrange a gala feast called pachor bath in which the newly married couple and relatives are invited. Verities of fish dishes are prepared with special preference of wallagoattu, hilsa, rohu or roholabeo etc. |
| Koina thilkora (After marriage feast) | Second day of marriage | Parents of groom arrange a feast in the next day of marriage for those who convoy the bride called koina thilkora party with as many varieties of fish dishes as possible preferably of hilsa, rohu etc. |
| Bath Khowani (Rice feeding ceremony) | During the seventh month of pregnancy | When the married daughter reaches the seventh month of pregnancy an auspicious day is selected and parents visit their daughter’s home with lots of fish, grocery, bakery goods, gifts and new clothes for their pregnant daughter and other relatives called bath khawani. Grand feast is arranged and offered as many varieties of fish dishes as possible like hilsa,chitala, rohu etc. |
| Bual chara khowani (Feeding of wallagoattu) | During the ninth month of pregnancy | When the married daughter reaches the ninth month of pregnancy, her parents offer a dish with wallagoattu fish called bualachara and it is believed that eating such will help in safe delivery. |
| Apokpa Dou (Traditional ancestor or clan God) | In the month December or in March-April | Apokpa is the most important traditional ancestor/clan or Lokei God and the Apokpa puja is performed every year after the harvest of paddy. All members of clans or lokei offer pujas to their piba (from whom the lokei descended) and feast together. For almost all clan’s fish like channa or snakeheads, wallagoattu etc is essential in this ancestral God puja. |
| Ngatang (Fish dinner) | After shradha ritual | The family of a deceased organize a dinner called ‘ngatang’ with relatives and clans after the 13th day of shradha. It is believed that on that night, a plate of meal with kaanta as fish bones should be offered outside the home of the deceased and request atma or soul not to enter in the yards. The entry of the atma of deceased in the yards may cause negative energy to the family. |
| Chapal (Traditional offering of puja) | Bad times or sick period | Diseases caused due to evil influence can be cured by means of special offerings of puja/ritual called ‘chapal’ through meipa(quack).This ritual is marked by the release of channa or snakeheads to cure an ailing or sick person and believed that the offered fish will take away the illness. |
| Atorbath (First cooking by newly wed bride) | Post marriage | Atorbath is an essential post marriage ceremony when the newly wed bride cooks for the first time. Verities of fish dishes are cooked and the clan or lokei relatives of the newly wed bride groom are invited and feast together which is also a custom of accepting the newlywed bride in their clan. |
| Kutum | Throughout the year | Whenever relatives called kutum visit and stay, Bishnupriya Manipuri’s feel pride by arranging good quality local fish dishes mostly from homestead pond. |
Thus, fish has been the most widely accepted food items and consumed by almost all people of the community and a part of the culture and tradition. It is often said that the Bishnupriya Manipuris chosen their early settlements in the banks of the rivers, lakes, ponds where fish available.4 Homestead pond aquaculture is prevalent in almost every household mostly for own consumption and not for income. Some of the most cultured and consumed fish verities by the Bishnupriya Manipuri’s are in the Table 2.
Table: 2 Locally cultured and consumed fish by the Bishnupriya Manipuri’s
| Bishnupriya Manipuri name | Local Name | Scientific Name | Availability |
| Rou | Rohu | Labeo rohita | Throughout the year |
| Candela | Catla | Catla catla | Throughout the year |
| Mrigel | Mrigal | Cirrhinus mrigala | Throughout the year |
| Calbouse | Calbasu | Labeo calbasu | Throughout the year |
| Ghania | Ghania | Labeo genius | Throughout the year |
| Japani | Common carps | Cyprinus carpio | Throughout the year |
| Silver | Silver carps | Hypopthalmirchthys | Throughout the year |
| Grass crap | Grass craps | Clenopharxgodon idila | Throughout the year |
| Puthi | Puti | Puntius sp. | Throughout the year |
| Putha | Puta | Puntius sp. | Throughout the year |
| Hingi | Singi | Hetcropnerustes fossil | Throughout the year |
| Magura | Magur | Clarias balracus | Throughout the year |
| Boal | Boal | Wallago alltu | Throughout the year |
| Gongia | Tengra | Mystus cavaries | Throughout the year |
| Gongia | Tengra | Mystus vittatus | Throughout the year |
| Rita | Rita | Rita rita | Throughout the year |
| Vacha | Vacha | Eutropichthys vacha | Throughout the year |
| Bashpata | Bashpata | Ailia coila | Throughout the year |
| Aair | Aair | Myrtus seexghala | Throughout the year |
| Peachukapi | PeachKoi | Clarias balracus | Throughout the year |
| Ukapi | Coilsa | Anabos tertudineous | Throughout the year |
| Cheng | Cheng | Colia farinata | Throughout the year |
| Porom | Sool | Channa punctalus | Throughout the year |
| Chital | Chital | China marulius | Throughout the year |
| Ilisha | Hilsa | Hilsa ilisha | Throughout the year |
| Telapia | Tilapia | Tilapia mossambica | Throughout the year |
A Vaishnava must be a vegetarian. It is often debated that being Gaudiya Vaishnavas, why the Manipuri’s (including the Brahmins) eat fish? The reason is that the Manipuri’s embraced Vaishnavism without deserting their faiths and beliefs. The worship of Apokpa is an integral part of the Manipuris which requires fish to some of the clans/lokeis and fish still plays an important role in their culture, customs and beliefs. Both the Brahmins and the Khsatriyas embraced Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the difference between the two castes therefore is also minimal. The Bishnupriya Manipuri’s accepted Vaishnavism but never surrendered their basic dress code, colour of the dress, size of the dhak (drum), ngatang, bhat khowani etc. Therefore, the Manipuri’s were allowed to continue their traditional beliefs within Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
Notes and References:
1. http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/Intensive_fish_culture_ visited on 25th March 2025
2. Based on telephonic interview with Mrs. Kumkum Sinha, Guwahati, Assam, 09. 01. 2024
3. Based on telephonic interview with Bidyut Bikash Sinha, Kailashahar, Tripura, 10. 01. 2024
4. Based on personal interview with Mr. Samir Sinha and Nibhu Rajkumari, Silchar, Assam, 03. 01. 2024
5. Sinha, Harendra (2019): Bishnupriya Manipuri: Identity Culture and Change, Mittal Publications, New Delhi, p.108
The author Dr. Harendra Sinha (dawlasinha@gmail.com) is Professor in Political Science & Principal, Govt. Zawlnuam College, Mizoram)