Eight products of Bodo Community has been granted GI tag

Photo by Maophung Photography

The Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai has granted the GI tag to eight products of Bodos community , including traditional food items and several unique varieties of rice beer.

The Bodo Traditional Brewers Association has applied for Geographical Indication tags for three types of rice beer. The first type, "Bodo Jou Gwran," has the highest alcohol content at around 16.11%. The second type, "Maibra Jou Bidwi," is considered a welcome drink by many Bodo people and is made by fermenting half-cooked rice with less water and adding "amao" (a potential yeast source). The third type, "Bodo Jou Gishi," is also a traditionally fermented rice-based alcoholic beverage. The GI filing states that rice beer consumption has been a tradition in Bodoland for a long time. The Bodo people believe the drink originated from Lord Shiva and consider it a medicine.

The Association of Traditional Food Products successfully obtained four Geographical Indication tags. One of these tags was awarded to "Bodo Napham," a fermented fish dish that is popular among the Bodo people. This dish is prepared anaerobically in a sealed container over a period of two to three months. The Bodo people have various methods of preserving fish, including smoking, drying, salting, fermentation, and marination. Fermentation is a preferred preservation method due to heavy rainfall and limited fish availability in the region.

The "Bodo Ondla," a rice powder curry flavored with garlic, ginger, salt, and alkali, has also been granted a GI tag. The "Bodo Gwkha," also known as "Gwka Gwkhi," is prepared during the Bwisagu festival and has also received a GI tag. Another specialty that has been given a GI tag is "Bodo Narzi," a semi-fermented food made with jute leaves, a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins, and essential minerals.

The "Bodo Aronai," a small, beautiful cloth, has also been awarded a GI tag following an application by the Association of Traditional Bodo Weavers.

The Bodo people have unique traditions in their dance, music, festivals, and clothing. Their clothing is deeply inspired by nature and features designs from their surroundings, including trees, flowers, mountains, birds, and other elements of the natural world.

Written by Sangeetha Kandavel

[This article is originally published in The Hindu (Newspaper) ]