Scarcity of Hilsa, a fish with distinct marine flavour and taste, has hit the city, upsetting many Bengali's during the festive season. The prized fish of Bengal is unavailable in the market, and fish sellers are struggling hard to order the stock and match up to the demand.
During Durga Puja, most Bengalis feast on Hilsa after the idol of Goddess Durga is immersed in the water. "It is a delicacy and marks an end of the festival," says Debomita Guha, a home-maker.
Hilsa is an important part of the wedding trousseau of most Bengalis, lying amidst jewellery, wrapped in a saree. No auspicious occasions including annaprashon (a child's first rice-eating ceremony), jamai shoshti (an annual ceremony where the sons-in-law are fed an elaborate meal), poila boishakh (Bengali new year), Durga puja, Kali puja, etc is deemed complete without Hilsa.
Mufid Kaladia, who runs Ahmedabadfish.com, said, "We get one day's fresh stock of fish from Veraval. However, the last Hilsa stock that we received was 20 days ago. There is a lot of demand due to Durga Puja but less supply. The Hilsa of Arabian sea costs around Rs 1000 whereas Hilsa of Bay of Bengal costs Rs 2500 per kilogram. This is the season of Hilsa as people avoid eating the fish between November and February."
He added, "I should be getting a few kilos in two days with a lot of difficulty."
The importance that Hilsa carries corroborated when Mamata Banerjee returned to power, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina greeted her with 20 kg of Hilsa.
Another fish seller from Teen Darwaja, Gitaben, who is into this business for generations said that she will be getting Hilsa post Dusshera. Speaking to dna, she said, "We get Hilsa from Narmada and it costs Rs 850. However, since the water in the river is very less, we are not getting the fish. I have been getting calls from Bengalis across the city inquiring about the fish but we will only be able to get post festival."
Right now, the only easily available fish in the market is Rohu. Even fresh Pomfret and Katla are not available regularly. This has affected our business, she added. September and October is the season for Hilsa and hence it's is the most expensive during this period.
Another resident, Akash Chodhury said, "Ilish Boron is a very important ritual during festivity. And I could not find the fish anywhere in the market."
NOT WITHOUT HILSA
No auspicious occasions including annaprashon (a child’s first rice-eating ceremony), jamai shoshti, poila boishakh (Bengali new year), Durga puja, Kali puja, etc is deemed complete without Hilsa
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 "Durga Puja")
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