Fish fair marking Nabanna gets momentum in Bogura

BOGURA, Nov 17: Fish fair organised by Hindu religious people marking Nabanna festival gains momentum in twelve upazilas in Bogura.
The fish traders take preparation before a week to provide fishes according to demand of customers. They import fishes from different districts. Locally produced fishes fill up only 30 per cent of demand.
Nabanna festival begins with harvesting Aman paddy in the morning and run till night through various programme. The Hindu people cook seven items of curry to entertain family members as well as invited guests.
It is one of the biggest festivals of the followers of traditional religions on the first day of Agrahayan , according to Panjika. On the occasion of this festival, the followers of traditional religions of different upazilas of the district rejoice.
The main attraction of this traditional festival is the fish fair. Different species of fish are bought and sold in these fairs. On the occasion of the festival, daughters-in-law and other relatives are invited to their homes and they are served with a variety of delicious food including baharipitha-payes.
Around this festival, fish fairs are held in different places of the district --- Dupchanchia, Nandigram, Gabtoly, Shibganj and Sadar upazilas every year.
While Visiting Fotteh Ali and Raja Bazaar fish markets this correspondent found the traders are busy selling fishes. The shops are beautifully decorated with various species of fish including Ruhi, Katla, Mrigel, Boal and Silver Carp.
Fish weighing from 1 kg to 40 kg is available in these fairs. From morning to afternoon the local people both Muslim and Hindu religious people gather in the fair for buying these fishes
Sayed Raihan, a fish farmer at Dehor village under Kahaloo upazila said, "I farmed fish in several ponds in different villages of the upazila around the Nabanna festival.""I have brought big fishes from those ponds to sell in Nabanna market." he added.
Brigade and silver carp are being sold at Tk 200 to 250, Katla at Tk 300 to 350, Ruhi at Tk 300 to 320, glass carp at Tk 180 to 200, mrigel at Tk 320 to 350 per KG in the fish fair. Depending on the size of the fish, prices vary.
President of Chamber of Commerce Md Masudur Rahman Milon said every year the traders make a target of Tk 100 to 120 million transactions. The traders import quality big fishes from different district to meet the demand of consumers, he added.
Additional District Magistrate Md Salah Uddin said the fish trading in the fair is going on maintaining social distance.

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