Challenges in preserving tradition: “Kharang” fish variety facing extinction

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 11, 2023

Foodies thronged the food festival organised by Seiñ Manbei Seiñ Raij Niamtre Shillong under the theme “Sharing Culture”, held on Friday. The food festival was inaugurated by Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla.

Wansalan Passah organizing secretary of the festival observed that it is not only a mere food festival to satisfy their taste buds but a need to be informed about food.

She said, “Everyday, there is something new, the food that we ate in the past and the food now, the food that has since faded away and the new food that are up, we have to be informed about food and what they are.”

“Food is a celebration of human beings, of communities. The people are able to showcase their talent in cooking. The programme that we have come up with is sharing of culture, we do not want it to be close, as in only the indigenous groups. We want to share our culture. We have a Chinese chef, then there is the Nagas. Then we have local Jaintia people cooking Biryani, Pav Bhaji. This is a small-scale programme, we did not have funds, we wanted to have this programme, in order to generate funds for other activities.”

She added that the purpose of organizing such a programme is to allow young people and children to remember their own culture and connecting them to the food habits of the forefathers.

Asked, if they want to come up with other programmes, Passah said, “Yes, why not? If it is an opportunity for us to come together as communities, it will be beautiful.”

Cabinet Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and Jowai MLA Wailadmiki Shylla enjoying a light refreshment with ‘Pu Tharo,’ a steam rice cake

Kharang
As for the food that is fading away from the market, she turned her attention to a particular variety of fish used as smoked fish or locally called “Kharang”.

“We are still smoking fish, but it is really not the same variety that people used in the past. That variety of fish does not exist anymore. We are still smoking fish to continue the culture though. I do not think variety of fish is available anymore because the waters are polluted, climate has changed,” Passah said.