By Sunil kumar, Nedunkayam
It is Monsoon, the season of fishing for tribal communities in Nilambur. Most of the tribal settlements in Nilambur are situated by the river side. Fishing is more or less a day to day business and fish form an important part of their diet. In fact it can be considered a major nutrient supplement in their regular diet. There are certain seasons or times for catching and eating certain types of fish. The Kadanna is one of the largest fish found in the rivers in these parts. This fish is not eaten during monsoons. The people say that the flesh of this fish is bitter or poisonous during rainy season. The Kadanna fish feed on any type of seeds and fruits found floating on the top of the water, including poisonous ones. They believe that this results in making them bitter and not edible. Therefore, Cholanaiken, Kattunaicken or the Paniyar communities do not eat Kadanna fish during rainy season. In fact, if accidently caught, the general practice is to release them back into the river.
