The Sacred and the Sustenance: A Sociological and Folk Religious Dimensions of Fishing in Malda, West Bengal

Abstract

This essay explores the intricate relationship between fishing methods and folk religious beliefs in Malda, West Bengal, and conceptualizes "fishing works" as a comprehensive folk cultural phenomenon. Using sociological theories like functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism, it investigates the ways in which local deities, rituals, superstitions, and syncretic traditions impact the socioeconomic lives and identities of fishing communities. The study focuses on how oral traditions and group solidarity support the preservation of this unique cultural bond and how folk religion may adjust to shifting environmental conditions and social injustices. Traditional jobs like fishing, which are both sources of income and culturally embedded customs, are intricately woven into the socio-economic fabric of rural India.

Fishing communities have long been an important part of local economies and cultural identities in West Bengal's Malda district, which is located along the banks of the Ganga River. In light of growing resource scarcity and environmental change, this study aims to investigate the lived realities of fishermen and fisher workers. This study uses the sociological frameworks of folk livelihood systems, environmental conflict theory, and occupational stratification. In this area, fishing is not just a commercial activity; it is ingrained in a belief system related to the river, customary access standards, and ceremonial customs, such as respect for the Ganga as a sacred body.