Abstract:
The food practices and associated customs are basis in building the sense of community and
thereby forming social identity. This study is designed as a descriptive study with the main
objective of finding the traditional dietary habits of Ikkirigollawa village Muslims. The research
has been carried out by simple random sampling procedure and 150 families were selected out of
1500. The data were collected and analyzed qualitatively as primary and secondary data. The
traditional dietary habits of Muslims, the ingredients of food, types of food, superstition related
to food customs and food customs during religious events were researched. In the findings of the
study, the Muslims partially follow the dietary habits of the Sinhalese and Arab Muslims. It is
significant that this village of Muslims are following to use the raw ingredients of food which are
available in their environment and their traditional food system. These villagers also have the
ability to choose food and cooking methods that are suitable for seasons and disease conditions.
They also traditionally have the technical ability to preserve foods using food preservation
techniques. Religious beliefs are given priority in their food habits. It is remarkable that the
Ikkirigollawa village Muslims have traditional healthy dietary habits which is limited by
religious aspects and still they are following them.
