Why do bengali brahmins eat fish. Heck, Brahmins were p...
Why do bengali brahmins eat fish. Heck, Brahmins were paid with fish, for their services of performing prayers in ancient Bengal. The love of fish superseded the love for chicken. The Bengal Brahmanas were allowed to eat fish because fish was the main item in the local diet. Similarly Bengali Brahmins do eat fish. It is a cultural phenomenon. Now it is normal, people here do not find this strange. Bengali Non-Brahmins are similar to Bengali Brahmins in many cultural aspects. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, being a Bengali Brahmin was eating fish (since fish is not strictly treated as non-veg by Bengalis). Fresh Fish is must to be presented during marriage to Groom of any Bengali Marriage (including of Brahmins). Is Brahmin eat non veg? The Brahmins adopted the new ideas in an effort to survive when their position was threatened. There is just far 1. Discover why Bengali Brahmins, traditionally vegetarian, adopted fish as a staple. Vegetarianism is considered satvic, that is purifying the body and mind lifestyle in We eat plenty of mutton, eggs, chicken (this is a relatively new thing, admittedly) and of course, lots of fruits and vegetables. It is said that the Sena Kings invited Brahmins from North India to establish Vedic practices in Bengal. Fish forms an important part of the Bengali food culture. So why do Brahmins from Bengal ( However, they also believe that fish is a pure and sacred food that can be consumed by Brahmins. But Bengali Brahmins reject taking Egg as a Non-veg Hunting for food was also common. Read to know more. So I think ultimately the decision to eat these or not would depend on (a) the family tradition and (b) the instructions of the Guru. Reference :Sastramulak Bharatiya Saktisadhana, Upendrakumar Das, RMIC,Vol 2, page 641-642. Unlike their counterparts elsewhere, even Brahmins in Bengal are non-vegetarians. Are Brahmins allowed to eat fish? If the concentration of DDT were 0. ried fish is in the favorite food list of many people of Bengal. Probably because of the annual flooding in plains of Bengal and fish was the only available resource. Brahmins from other parts of India, as far as I know, avoid eating fish. And eating excessive amounts of paneer and red meat is highly inadvisable in the modern day since most of us live sedentary lifestyles. This answer (Are Brahmins who eat fish fallen Brahmins?) showed that it is indeed forbidden. Most Hindu spiritual masters do encourage vegetarianism only. While many communities in India give up non-veg food entirely, Bengalis celebrate the festival by indulging in fish and other non-veg items. The reason is that Bengal, since ancient times, has been renowned for its extraordinarily fertile agricultural land and… He describes how rice, fish, meat [4], different milk products, shak (varieties of spinach) [5], vegetables [6], and fruits [7] dominated Bengali eating culture at that time. When I visited Pondicherry, people could only speak either Tamil or French. , Food, Times Now Bengalis are known to be a quintessentially fish and meat-loving state. 2 ppm in water of a lake. Do Vedas prohibit eating non veg? Hinduism does not require a vegetarian diet, but some Hindus avoid eating meat because it minimizes hurting other life forms. It is the lead-up to Durga Puja, the region's most important cultural and religious festival. Can you tell me why this difference in their culture? Why do Bengali Brahmins eat non vegetarian? Non-vegetarianism might be a sacrilege to Brahmins from the south, but for Brahmins in the east, fish is just a way of life. Some Bengali Brahmins refused to give up though. Generally, Brahmins do not eat fish or other non-vegetarian food. Some Nepali speaking Brahmins in Darjeeling region do eat only goat's meat. Can a Hindu eat fish? Hindus believe that all living things have a soul, and believe in the Bengali food is loved for its rich flavours and taxtures. Apr 21, 2024 · Bhaduri adds that during the Vedic period, animal sacrifice was customary during any yagna and even Brahmin priests were allocated a certain portion of the beast. Why do Bengalis eat non-vegetarian food during Navratri? Bengalis see non-veg dishes as part of the festive tradition and devotion to Maa Durga rather than a break from religious observance. Read how fish became so popular in the region and be amazed. The Saraswats, who couldn’t farm when the Saraswati River dried up, were allowed to eat sea food or fish, which were euphemistically called sea vegetables or samudra phalam. Therefore most Maithil Brahmins are non vegetarian by tradition. Most Bengali Brahmins, residing in West Bengal are non-vegetarians and fish is a staple diet. Fishing has always been an important occupation and Bengali literature contains several references to fish. Murshid notes that the scholar Sarbananda, too, did not forget the hilsa when he slammed fish-eating in his Teekasarbasya in the 12th century. Fish, chicken and rice being the staple diet of every Brahmin kid and elderly person, there is little room to practice vegetarianism. Was this answer helpful? I have seen that bengali brahmins are non-vegetarians whereas their counterpart in the rest of India are strictly lacto-vegetarians. Can Brahmins Eat Fish? Even all Brahmins are not vegetarians. Bengali Brahmin and Kashmiri brahmins are nonvegetarian as are coastal brahmin castes like the fish eating Saraswats. What does being a Brahmin meant exactly and why does she need to prove her Brahminism to these other group of Brahmins from the rest of India? It almost seemed like the majority of the remaining Brahmins didn't eat meat and expected her to apologize for indulging in such delicacies. The only ones who do not eat are usually Vaishnavite Brahmins, whose numbers are miniscule. It is only after the advent of Buddha and his teachings that killing of animals was given up and the practice of vegetarianism began,” he said. Why do Bengalis eat so much non veg? Meat Is Consumed To Celebrate The Victory Of Good Over Evil Durga Puja is the celebration of the victory of Durga Ma over Mahishasura. Why do Bengali pilgrims eat eggs? It is an open secret that even at the holiest of Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas, strictly vegetarian of course, traders make astronomical profits by slyly selling boiled eggs to muffler-covered, monkey-capped Bengali pilgrims or tourists. Do Mangalore Brahmins eat non-veg? Konkani Saraswat Brahmins are pesco-vegetarians, with fish being a common inclusion in their diet. Alongwith Fresh Fish, they present Fish made of Silver or Gold (as per their Status) to the Groom as Dowry. However, the Brahmins in North and South India are vegetarians, except Some Brahmins are known to be lovers and avid eaters of fish. Rather it is like an intense passion for the fish rising from the deepest part of a Mecho Bengali’s (Bengali people who love to eat fish) heart which goes to the extent of being reflected as an eye catching moment in a wedding or in a temple where fish plays a significant role ranging from its rituals to recipes. Have you ever wondered why Bengalis eat fish and meat during Navratri, while the other part of India fasts during the period? Here is all you need to know about the deeply rooted traditions. Maybe food was scarce during cold winters and they started eating. What is more, terracotta plaques on the walls of temples and viharas depict scenes of fish being dressed and taken to the market in baskets. 2. In Bengal, Brahmins eat fish, and sacrifice goats and buffalo to Goddess Kali. If it helps in your dissertation, just know that most Bengali Brahmins eat fish and meat regularly. But very soon, the Brahmins realised that common people needed fish and meat to survive in Bengal, vegetarianism wont work. Bengal is a riverine plain which produces plenty of rice and fish The walls of temples and viharas depict scenes of fish being dressed and taken to the market in baskets The Brihaddharma Purana a thirteenthcentury Sanskrit text from Bengal permitted the local Brahmanas to eat certain varieties of fish Brahmanas were not allowed to eat Can Brahmin eat Nonveg? Maharashtrian brahmins who founded RSS may be strictly vegetarian but Maharashtra as a whole is almost entirely meat and fish eating. Which Brahmins can eat non veg? Bengali Brahmin and Kashmiri brahmins are nonvegetarian as are coastal brahmin castes like the fish eating Saraswats. Even all Brahmins are not vegetarians. Why did Bengal Brahmins eat fish? The Bengal Brahmanas were allowed to eat fish because fish was the main item in the local diet. This is in sharp contrast to the orthodox upper caste Hindu's visceral aversion to meat. Social progression has little to do with it. So they issued a decree saying that all fish be considered vegetables. Who are Konkani Brahmins? Konkani Hindu Brahmins are those Brahmins whose mother-tongue is Konkani or Marathi. They ate fish and called themselves Vegetarians. Availability of fresh-water fishes is obviously the reason behind fish-eating (it is not considered vegetarian, fishes are eaten in certain festivals, but, in most "veg" days, fish is avoided). Jan 24, 2026 · Why do Bengalis eat fish during Durga Puja? The consumption of fish by Bengali Hindus during Durga Puja, while seemingly contrary to general Hindu vegetarian practices, is rooted in specific regional traditions, geographical factors, and Shakta religious texts. None is allowed to eat unoffered meat or fish by the way. Metaphorically, it is the win of good over evil. Legend has it that once there was a terrible drought for several years. Does any Hindu god eat non veg? In South India, Brahmins are vegetarian. So why this exception? It is believed that Saraswat Brahmins are descendants of Sage Saraswat, son of Sage Dadhichi and Saraswati River. What are typical non-vegetarian dishes during Bengali Navratri? Apr 5, 2019 · Non-vegetarianism might be a sacrilege to Brahmins from the south, but for Brahmins in the east, fish is just a way of life. In any case, non-violence is part of ‘yama’ (right practices) for a Hindu spiritual aspirant and consequently, vegetarianism is part and parcel of it. Sep 24, 2025 · Here’s why! Why Do Bengalis Celebrate Durga Puja By Eating Fish? Image Courtesy: Freepik Durga Puja is one of the most celebrated festivals among Bengalis. They became neo-veggies. Fish and rice are important in Bengal because of their easy availability, one Purana allowed brahmins of Bengal to eat fish and it is their staple food. . Even conservative Brahmins eat meat in Bengal. Many of them consider fish to be an appropriate part of a vegetarian diet. ബം ഗാളി ബ്രാഹമണർ മത്സ്യം In the inside though, Andy was in turmoil. The former culture of Bengal prior to Indo-Aryanization was somewhat similar to pre-IVC influenced South India . What would be its concentration in fish in the food chain plankton, fish, fish eating birds? How to calculate it? Unlike most Brahmin communities that are strictly vegetarian, the Bengalis eat fish. It is important to note that this dietary tradition is not followed by all Brahmins in India and varies from region to region. It is known from “Brihad Dharma Purana”that Brahmins used to eat Rohit (salmon fish), Shafar (Small Fry fis ), Sakula (Shol fish) and many fish with white color and scales. Once, before castes and religions came into the picture, humans were hunter-gatherers. The 11th-century Bengali scriptural scholar, Bhabadeb Bhatta, went on to extol the virtues of fish-eating, while the scholar Jeemutbahan praised the hilsa and its oil. In fact, traditionally fish is not considered non-vegetarian by them. Traditionally in the varna system Brahmins are considered as priests, but a temple priest is a lowly position that no Bengali Brahmin family wants their sons to aspire towards. A Bengali Sanskrit text from the thirteenth century known as the Brihad Dharma Purana authorised the consumption of several kinds of fish. “Meat eating has always been a part of Hindu culture. Same is the case with Odisha where Anglicization is much lower. 0 likes, 0 comments - ami_debolina on February 20, 2026: "This image beautifully captures the cultural answer to the question: Why do Bengali Brahmins eat Fish? Set against a serene river landscape, the scene reflects Bengal’s water-rich geography where rivers have sustained life for centuries. Meat, fish, etc can be taken only by the fallen brahmins. The joy of the victory is celebrated by feasting on sacrificial meat and fish. Sep 22, 2025 · Why Bengalis Eat Fish And Meat During Navratri While The Rest Of India Fasts In Bengal, Navratri is not just about fasting and restraint. However, the Brahmins in North and South India are vegetarians, except the Kashmiri Brahmins. That time, tribals used to ate various types thout scales, snake-like baim fish, burrowing fish etc Fish is an essential item in each and every Bengali crossing creed and caste. Overall, the tradition of Brahmins eating fish in Bengal is a unique cultural practice that has evolved over time. Here's ending the mystery to why Bengalis across the world gorge on non-vegetarian food during the Durga puja festival Whether you’re a Bengali or a non-Bengali, you can’t deny that there is an air of festive mood in the entire country and it revolves around the colourful festival of Durga Puja They have become vegetarians over a period of time. However, Saraswat Brahmins settled in many regions of India consume fish. allaq, qbupz, nj5s, 6bbt, e2yqmz, erpbu, a2ss5, lroye, 5o4p, kljzl,