Mahifarash Explained

Group:	Mahifarash
Popplace:	Bangladesh (Old Dhaka)
Langs:	Old Dhakaiya (native) Standard Bengali (mostly spoken as an L2)
Religions:	Sunni Islam
Related Groups:	Dhakaiyas

The Mahifarash (Bengali: মাহিফরাস|mahifôrash, Dhakaiya: মাইফরাস maifôrash) are a Bengali Muslim community of fishmongers primarily from Old Dhaka. They are distinct from the Mahifarash of Tangail, who are descendants of Mappila Muslims,^{[1] [2]} and the Mahifarash fishermen of Mymensingh.^[3]

Etymology

The word Mahifarash comes from the Persian words māhi (ماهی) meaning fish and furosh (فروش) meaning sale. They are known as Bengali: মাইফরাস maifôrash among Dhakaiyas.^[4]

History and customs

Since the start of Mughal rule in Jahangir Nagar (Dhaka), the Mahifarash community of Dalti Bazar have exclusively monopolised the fish industry, and they continue to have authority in this sector in present times. Their customs were traditionally headed by a sardar who would also settle disputes. During the Mughal period, the Mahifarash were known to organise feasts and banquets in their Azimpur grounds at the start of cultivation harvest season.^[5] They cooked 20 to 25 mounds of rice and entertained thousands of people in addition to people from their own community. This feast would continue throughout the day, and was the precursor to what would later become known as Pohela Boishakh celebration.^[6]

See also

• Sardari system

Further reading

• Book: কোম্পানি আমলে ঢাকা. bn. Taylor, James. Asaduzzaman, Mohammad. February 2001.

Notes and References

1. Web site: https://www.amartangail.com/%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%99%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A3%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9/. Amar Tangail. bn. bn:টাঙ্গাইলের নামকরণের ইতিহাস. History of the naming of Tangail.
2. News: 21 February 2019. bn:সুবেদার শায়েস্তা খাঁর বাহিনীর ধর্মগুরুর নামে টাঙ্গাইল. Tangail in the name of Subahdar Shaista Khan's army's spiritual leader. https://www.banglatribune.com/journey/421987/%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87. Bangla Tribune. bn.
3. Book: Bengal District Gazetteers: Mymensingh. 1912. Sachse, F. A..
4. Book: bn. bn:কিংবদন্তির ঢাকা: Historical anecdotes about Dacca City, Bangladesh, ancient to the present, with a list of luminaries of the city. Hossain, Nazir. Azad Muslim Club (distributor National Book Centre). 1981. 441.
5. News: bn. bn:মাহিফরাসের দাওয়াত টু পয়লার ইলিশ-পান্তা. From the banquets of the Mahifarash to the Ilish-Panta of Poyla Boishakh. https://eisamaygold.timesgroup.com/culture/subho-nababarsha-bengali-food-tradition/1663682487740. Ei Samay Gold. Sahebul Haq, Sheikh.
6. News: https://bangla.bdnews24.com/lifestyle/article1319479.bdnews. Bdnews24.com. bn. bn:বৈশাখী খাবারের সুলুক সন্ধানে. In search of Boishakhi banquets. Akram, Ridwan. 14 April 2017.