Hyderabad: ‘Mrigasira Karte,’ the day that marks the onset of southwest monsoon and considered auspicious to consume fish, reported heavy sales across fish markets here on Saturday. Cashing in on the day’s importance, prices shot up, including for cleaning fish.
The state fisheries department supplied 3,000 kg fish to the market, apart from which was the supply by private agencies, who procure from suppliers from the coast and ponds. It is estimated that at least 10,000 kg of various types of fish was sold in the city on Saturday.
Meanwhile, activity at the Ramnagar market, which is the biggest fish market in the twin cities, began in the early hours with the arrival of trucks. Wholesalers and hotel suppliers began thronging the market from early morning as did the general public to buy the variety of their choice.
V. Srinivas, general manager of the state fisheries department, said “as it was ‘Mrigasira Karte’, we sent 3,000 kg of fish to the market. Normally, we supply 800 kg on Sundays, when the demand is more than on weekdays.”
Meanwhile, those who cleaned fish in the market were delighted as their wages for the day were hiked.
Madhavi, one such cleaner, spoke for all of them by contending that “there are hundreds of people engaged in this work on this day. More workers are also brought in. Our earnings will be good on this day, which we treat as a festival day.”
