Sacred sustenance

This chapter explores the role of food in death rituals and mourning events through a comparative ethnographic study of Assamese Hindu and Christian Naga communities. It examines how food expresses grief, honours the deceased and fosters community solidarity. In native Assamese Hindu traditions, specific vegetarian meals are prepared as symbolic offerings and sources of comfort during Shraddha . Among Christian Nagas, communal feasts featuring traditional dishes such as smoked meat and fermented fish reflect cultural heritage and shared mourning. Through this comparison, this chapter highlights how food operates as a spiritual and social medium, shaping rituals of loss across distinct religious and cultural contexts.