Traditional Cooking Practices Of The Bhil Tribe In MP

The Bhil tribe of Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh has various ways of obtaining food, including the associated habits, beliefs, and notions. According to Rashmi Metha, SHO Tribal Department, Satpura, MP, “The Bhil tribe in Madhya Pradesh has a rich food culture that is deeply rooted in agriculture. Over 90% of the Bhil population is engaged in farming.” Further, she adds, “Only a small portion works in non-agricultural jobs.” The community relies heavily on rainwater for irrigation, which limits them to harvesting just one crop a year. This crop must sustain them through the entire year.  

The diet of Bhil primarily consists of cereals and pulses. Seasonal vegetables and fruits are also consumed if grown or available in the field or forest. Milk and milk products are used. Sugar is observed to be almost absent from their daily diet. However, the consumption of ghee/oil was also observed to be poor. Wheat, rice, and non-vegetarian dishes are considered socially prestigious.  

Food is cooked and eaten in privacy because of a strong belief in the existence of ‘Dakin’ or the Evil Spirit. Women do not taste or nibble while cooking with the concept of becoming its ‘Jutha’.  

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The tribals prefer to consume these at each festival and ceremony along with the indigenous liquor, ‘Mahua’. Liquor is such an integral part of a tribe's life that every festival or event begins and ends with it.  

Read on to dive deep into the culinary habits of the Bhil tribe:  

Cooking Practices   

Bhil cooks and eats food in much privacy. An outsider or stranger is prohibited from entering their cooking area. It is linked with the belief in the existence of ‘Dakin’, ‘Evil Spirit', or ‘Eye’. This is to not manifest anger through loss of appetite, sickness, convulsions, etc. This superstitions and belief of Dakin are deeply rooted and form an integral part of Bhil’s society, as observed in the village.  

Food is cooked traditionally on Chulla in earthen vessels. It was done with the belief that food does not get spoiled in these vessels. Food is generally cooked twice a day.  

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Women of the house do not taste or nibble while cooking food with a concept of becoming ‘Jutha’. Before cooking, a houselady cleans the entire house and washes the utensils and her hands to remove bad effects due to evil spirits, etc.  

• Maize is the main food ingredient for this tribe; they make dishes like:  
• Maize roti is prepared after kneading the maize flour (which is milled by hand) with hot water.  
• They also made ‘PANIYA’ from the maize, which is a favourite tribal food. It is not different from maize chapatti, but maize dough is directly roasted on slow combustion.  
• ‘Rabdi’ (maize porridge), prepared out of crushed maize, is another tribal dish. The crushed maize is boiled in water till it gets cooked. Buttermilk is poured and salt is added before eating.  

They also prepared maize curry from maize flour as a substitute for vegetables.  

Also Read: The Gond Thali: Kanha National Park's Tribal Meal In Madhya Pradesh Is A Must-Try

Food Consumption Pattern  

The diets of the Bhil tribe primarily consist of cereals and pulses. Among cereals, their diet is confined to maize and jowar. Besides, they eat other cereals that are grown by them, like:  

• Savi  
• Bhadi  
• Kutki  

However, rich tribals eat wheat and rice comparatively more. Maize or any other cereals are eaten either as chapatti, gruel, or cereal porridge, locally called 'Thuli.'  

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As regards pulses, they eat frequently.  

• Moong  
• Urd  
• Tuar  

However, seasonal fruits and vegetables are eaten by them, if available. Dal is cooked with a lot of water and red and green chilies.  

Bhil villagers do not consume milk or give milk to infants and small children. Also, they do not consume tea. This shows that the consumption of sugar is almost absent from their routine diet.  

Although they are non-vegetarian and extremely fond of eating nonveg, its consumption is limited to only ceremonial and festival days.  

Eating Practices 

Normally, food is eaten twice daily, around 11-12 a.m. and another in the evening before it gets dark.  

It was observed that chapattis are eaten during the day, while in the evening they only consume either gruel or porridge. This is because less grain is consumed for cooking porridge/gruel and so that more members can eat. Boiled pulses or vegetables were generally eaten.  

During the day, family members ate whenever they felt hungry. At evening, when all the family members are together, children get priority, followed by men.  

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Alcoholic Practices  

Drinking of indigenous liquor, Mahua, is a popular practice. Men were found to be habitual drinkers and consumed almost daily in a good measure, while the women consumed occasionally and during festivals and ceremonial days.  

The liquor is locally prepared by them; it has high ritual sanctity to the extent that their every rite and ritual starts with offering liquor and ends with offering liquor to gods and goddesses and consuming the same too in good measure.  

Food On Different Occasions  

Certain foods are fixed for social events and festivals, while others are eaten regularly. Almost every respondent regarded wheat, rice, and non-vegetarian foods as the best food for events and festivals.  

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Everyone in Bhil has a strong desire to consume these whenever there is an opportunity. It is customary in society to prepare a dish out of rice, wheat, and non-vegetables at each ceremony or festival that they prefer to consume with liquor.