The Jarawa and Honey: An Ethnographic Enquiry on Honey-Community Relationship among the Jarawas of Andaman Islands

Abstract

Throughout the world honey is symbolically associated with different aspects of societies and cultures. Holistic studies on honey-community relationship are rare and particularly in case of Jarawa, it's very scanty. Jarawa is a classic hunter-gatherer communi h) of Andaman Islands and honey is an inseparable component o!Jarawa society and culture. It contributes as a major food item for the Jarawas for about half of the calendric year when other foremost food resources are of scanh;. Moreover, honey-Jarawa relationship may be observed from their every activity starting from searching ofbee-hive to marking it, collection procedure to consumption pattern, storing procedure to use of by-products, social dynamics to medicinal use etc. Use of different herbs as bee repellent during honey collection and dynamicih; of its application is also of immense importance. This manuscript attempts to make a holistic ethnographic enquin; on honey-community relationship of Jarawa community with special reference to traditional knowledge system and socio-cultural dynamics.