Folklore, Farming Rituals, and Foodways of the Mao Nagas in Manipur

This article presents an ethnographic account of the foodways of the Mao Nagas in Manipur. It traces the journey of food from the farm—particularly terrace fields in the mountains—and from the forest through seasonal foraging, to the Mao Naga kitchen and food table. The study foregrounds the beliefs, values, and rituals associated with farming; the indigenous knowledge and ecological sensibilities embedded in food production; and food preservation practices such as sun-drying and fermentation, all of which remain central to Mao cultural history and identity. In Mao society, food becomes a sacred entity and embodies spiritual essence when offered to the gods, while communal feasting creates spaces of social solidarity and strengthens community ties. Food, therefore, carries deep symbolic, cultural, and spiritual meanings that transcend its role as a biological necessity. Taking Song Song, a Mao Naga village in Senapati district, as a case study, the article shows the continuing influence of traditional foodways in shaping the everyday food culture of the Mao Nagas in the present. In addition to household surveys, focus group discussions were conducted with selected elderly members of the community on farming, oral history, folklore, and folk narratives.