Human and Aquatic Lives Entwined: Rituals, Subsistence, and Symbolism in Coastal Bengal, India

Abstract (English)

This paper explores the interdependent relationship between the Bengali community and aquatic species in the coastal regions of Bengal. Fish plays a vital role in the daily life, ritual practice, and cultural worldview of this community. The Ganges delta, formed by the mixing of freshwater and saline water, supports a rich diversity of fish species, including Hilsa, Rohu, and Catfish. In many rural and riverine zones, especially where external food supplies are limited, the Bengali community depends heavily on fishing for its subsistence economy and household needs. In this ecological and cultural setting, fish is more than a source of protein. It holds ritual significance in ceremonies related to birth, marriage, and death. Fish also appears in folk beliefs, oral traditions, and religious symbolism. Fishing communities retain deep ecological knowledge about fish behaviour, seasonal availability, and water management, which contributes to sustainable food practices and intergenerational knowledge transmission. By combining ethnographic insights with historical references, this study presents aquatic animals as active participants in Bengali lifeways. It also highlights how the community’s traditional practices, ritual systems, and local economies remain rooted in the coastal environment. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of human-animal interaction, especially in regions where livelihood, belief, and biodiversity are closely linked.