Would Hilsa 'grace' Kolkata's Durga Puja this year?

The autumn clouds indicate that Durga Puja is knocking the doors. Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the year for Hindus, will be held across West Bengal in October. Marking the occasion, everyone will forget the 'differences' and enjoy the festival. Padma hilsa from Bangladesh adds extra flavor to this festival of Bengali Hindus in Kolkata every year. However, there is a possibility that there will not be enough hilsa for Durga Puja this year. Now the question has arisen, will there be hilsa for Durga Puja?

Some have also explained the reason for this question. They said that traders export hilsa from Bangladesh to West Bengal at different times of the year. During Durga Puja the amount increases at a significant rate. However, the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh has affected the trade between the two countries. This is why there is uncertainty about whether Padma hilsa will come to India or not.

Statistics say that in 2021, around 4600 tons of Padma hilsa came to India from Bangladesh. About 3,000 tons came in 2022 and about 4,000 tons came in 2023. However, in the current situation, fish traders are somewhat hesitant. As a result, the Bengalis of West Bengal are waiting for hilsa for the puja festival, but the businessmen are not being able to provide it.

Bengalis in Kolkata informed that during Durga Puja, there is a different kind of joy in having lunch with hilsa fish from Padma. Which brings a different taste in eating. For this reason, the people of West Bengal wait for hilsa even before the start of the puja. It has become a custom. But now that tradition is going to be interrupted.

Although the political situation of Bangladesh is now largely stable, the fish traders of West Bengal could not communicate with the country's exporters. Fish traders from neighboring areas including Kolkata said that there is little chance of Hilsa coming this year.

Although Hilsa of Padma is not available, some fishermen are relying on Hilsa of Ganges. They are hoping that more hilsa will come from Diamond Harbour this year than other times. It is reported that a record amount of hilsa is available from Digha. Ramesh Hazra, a fish trader in the area adjacent to Jodubabur Bazaar in Kolkata, said, "There is no shortage of hilsa in the market. But buyers are looking for Padma hilsa more. Padma hilsa is not coming from Bangladesh, so where will we get it from?"

Due to the increase in Ganges hilsa, the buyers are getting it at a lower price. However, the demand of Padma Hilsa demand is more than Ganges Hilsa.

Bappi Chowdhury, secretary of the fish trade association of Siliguri, a city in the northern part of West Bengal, said, "We have urged Bangladesh that we want to import hilsa fish. But now due to the political tension in Bangladesh, it is not possible to bring fish from that country. We apologize in advance to the buyers."

Traders said that the future of hilsa import is uncertain due to several reasons including political instability. But they also admit that Padma hilsa fish has immense cultural and economic value.

Fisheries and Livestock Adviser of Bangladesh Interim Government Farida Akhtar said earlier that the people of Bangladesh will get hilsa first. Export will be done after that. After her statement, more doubts have arisen about getting Padma's hilsa.