Preserving Culinary Heritage: A Study of Indigenous Food Habits and Dietary Knowledge in the Traditional Society of the Tagin Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract Food and dietary habits are general aspects that are followed by all of mankind. Humans have followed their sets of food and dietary habits to fulfill the basic needs of life. So do the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh. The knowledge of traditional food and dietary practices is one of the major aspects of traditional economic practices of the tribal communities which are rooted in their cultural identity. This knowledge is essential for preserving the culinary heritage of any tribal community. Furthermore, Arunachal Pradesh, the 24th state of India, has many tribal communities. Specifically, the Tagin, one of major tribes of the state, has been following its own sets of traditional food and dietary habits since time immemorial, with unique terminologies associated with them. Initially, the traditional diet of this tribe was mainly based on forest resources that are nutritious and beneficial for health. However, with exposure to modernity, some alterations to these practices have evolved, subsequently affecting their lives. Therefore, this paper will discuss the sources of traditional foods, dietary habits and also examine the impact of modernity on traditional food, dietary habits and the lives of the Tagin people.