As the festive spirit sweeps through Assam, preparations for Uruka, the day before Magh Bihu, are in full swing. Uruka is marked by joyous feasting, and fish takes center stage in the celebrations. The Uzan Bazar ghat fish market in Guwahati transforms into a vibrant carnival-like scene, with locals eagerly anticipating the festivities.
The Brihattar Guwahati Paikary Mas Becha –Kina Somobai Samiti Ltd. (BGPAMKSSL) secretary, Kajal Paul Choudhury, has revealed that the GMC’s Wholesale Fish Market at Betkuchi is well-prepared to meet the soaring demand on Uruka Day. The market is set to receive approximately 2,000 metric tons (MT) of fish, with imports arriving from various parts of India.
Imported fish, including popular species like rohu, catla, chital, grass carp, hilsa, and more, is transported to Assam by trucks from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal and by train from Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Madhya Pradesh, and other regions.
On a regular day, Guwahati receives 4-6 trucks carrying 48-72 MT of fish from other states. However, for Uruka, the wholesale fish markets in the city have arranged for 50-60 trucks (600-720 MT) of fish from outside the state. Choudhury estimates that on Uruka Day, Assam will witness the arrival of a total of 1,800-2,000 MT of imported fish to meet the festive demand.
The State Fishery Department reports a steady growth in Assam’s fish production, reaching 4.43 lakh MT in 2022-23. This positive trend is attributed to increased participation in fish farming, expansion of fish farming areas, and improvements in the quality of fish seeds in the state.
