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Food Avoidances of Indian Tribes
Gabriella Eichinger Ferro-Luzzi
Contents
Introduction
1. Positive Attitude Towards Avoided Food
a) General Respect and Sentimental Attachment
b) Totemism
c) Deification
d) Temporary Avoidances in Deference to Gods
2. Negative Attitude Towards Avoided Food
a) Dangerous Food
b) Disgusting and Impure Food
3. Ambivalent Attitude Towards Avoided Food
4. Simultaneous Avoidance of Valued and of Objectionable Food
5. Circumstantial Avoidances
6. Food as a Factor of Distinction and Hierarchy
7. Change
Summary and Conclusions
Introduction
The present paper intends to show the multitude of beliefs and reasonings
^ v hich may give rise to tribal food avoidances in India, as well as the numerical
aild cultural importance of these prohibitions. Purity ideas will be demon
strated to be one of the most significant factors in their genesis. Furthermore
e study will examine the relationship between tribal avoidances and Hindu
Cu Ture and will draw some parallels to similar practices in other parts of the
^orld. Change in the observance of these prohibitions will be put in evidence
and the direction of this change will be traced.
By food avoidance I mean the abstention from an available food item
c °nsidered to be edible by other communities. The paper is concerned with
^Tturally determined prohibitions by groups and not with individual dislikes.
Tl0n § culturally determined restrictions of food, emphasis will be put on
. 0s c of magico-religious origin and on those linked to the social structure
a different way from those of western food avoidances.
Anth
K. J. Narr
>ropos 70. 1975
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