Question

when people in gopalpur say that members of different jatis should not \eat together,\ they actually mean that

all the jatis never participate together in any public rituals that involve food consumption.

members of different jatis should not eat from the same dish or sitting on the same line.

members of jatis that are close in rank and neither at the top nor at the bottom of the scale should not eat together.

jatis may not eat together unless they are eating rice.

Explanation:

In the context of jatis (sub - castes in some South Asian social structures), the idea of not "eating together" often pertains to very specific and immediate dining arrangements. It is not about never participating in any public ritual with food (as some public events might still have structured participation), nor is it about a broad - scale rule based on rank proximity (except in very specific and not the most common interpretations). The idea of only being able to eat together if it's rice is not a common or fundamental aspect of the "not eating together" rule. The most basic and common understanding is about the immediate act of sharing a dish or sitting in a particular (usually hierarchical) line during a meal.

Answer:

members of different jatis should not eat from the same dish or sitting on the same line.