Paradip: The seasonal surge in religious activities during the holy month of Shravan left Paradip’s bustling fish trade centres, especially the prominent wholesale fish depot at Baliplot in Atharbanki, in this port town, nearly deserted.
According to fish trader Paresh Mandal, the footfall drastically declined since the onset of Shravan month. Typically, the market bustles with activity Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays — the days known for high sales of non-vegetarian items. However, this year’s Kanwar Yatra or Bol Bom rituals and religious observances have significantly affected local consumption of non-vegetarian food items like fish.
“Local buyers have almost vanished. Many young people from nearby areas are now taking part in Kanwar Yatra to various Shaivite shrines, avoiding all non-vegetarian food items like meat, fish, prawn and poultry for an entire month,” Mandal explained.
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Traders from other states continue to buy fish at open market rates, but local demand remains unexpectedly low.
Farmers from Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur bring their fish to Baliplot, storing those in ice for sale during the days when non-vegetarian food items are consumed. The traders sell their fish before daybreak. On average, 120 to 150 quintals of fish are sold daily at around 30 stalls. Now, half of those stalls are shut. Only 10 to 15 women now work as fish cutters, compared to the usual dozen who handle 3 quintals on the non-vegetarian days.
“We barely get 10-15 kg of fish to cut now,” said fish cutter Shukdeb Haldar. “The market is almost at a standstill,” he added.
PNN