From Womb to Grave: Food Culture associated with Rites de Passage among Paudi Bhuyan, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) of Odisha, India.

Abstract

 Food practices are closely related to culture, rituals, and health in indigenous communities. In India's Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), these practices are poorly documented, posing significant challenges to targeted health and nutrition policies. The Paudi Bhuyan, a PVTG from Odisha, India has a complex food culture that extends from pregnancy through infancy, adolescence, marriage and death. The current study sought to record and analyse their food prescriptions, food taboos and sickness-related food prohibitions across the life cycle of Paudi Bhuyan. We used a qualitative ethnographic methodology, including semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews in the villages of Odisha. The results show a complex, culturally relevant food system that governs food consumption across nine life stages from trimester-specific pregnancy foods to mortuary feeding rituals. Local food sources like moringa, horse gram and millet are targeted during physiologically critical times. Paudi Bhuyan's food culture is an essential body of indigenous nutrition knowledge that should be integrated into public health policies rather than replaced by universal diet guidelines.