The onset of monsoons marks the season to eat hilsa, and Bengalis rejoice over shared meals ready with the ‘queen of fish’ from head to tail so says my buddy, who hails from Durgapur. The indigenous number of herring, which is well each Bengali’s favorite fish, is within the information after the Bangladesh authorities introduced it has permitted merchants to promote practically 4,000 metric tonnes of hilsa to India forward of the festive Durga Puja season, officers stated.
Hilsa performs a vital position in Bengali tradition. Previously, it was customary for households of grooms to current hilsa wrapped in a crimson sari to the bride’s household. Bengalis contemplate fish to be very auspicious and fortunate. Throughout Jamai Shoshti, celebrated in Might or June, mothers-in-law purchase hilsa at exorbitant costs and playfully bully their sons-in-law into feasting.
Hilsa performs an essential half throughout Saraswati puja too, when the Hindu goddess of studying is worshipped, pairs of the fish are offered to the deity as a sacred providing.
Hilsa additionally typically options as a centrepiece in festivities like Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Yr) and Durga Puja. Hilsa is sort of actually thought-about a logo of wealth too, as it’s dearer. So, serving one’s marriage ceremony friends would imply you are making fairly an announcement.
Now Bangladesh’s choice to permit commerce of 4,000 metric tonnes of hilsa has historic significance too. Bangladesh was as soon as a part of Bengal beneath undivided India. The partition separated the Hindu-majority West Bengal from East Bengal, which later turned Bangladesh. This additionally displaced a number of families– quite a lot of Hindus have been compelled emigrate to West Bengal, whereas quite a lot of Muslims migrated to East Bengal.
Households divided by the border to this date argue, which facet possesses the better-tasting hilsa. Is the one caught from the Padma river in Bangladesh higher tasting or possess a greater texture than one caught from the Ganga in West Bengal?
The place most brahmins in different communities shun away from meat or fish, Bengali brahmins gladly devour fish and meat. So, it is not stunning that any form of fish, particularly hilsa performs an essential position in a single probably the most vital festivals of Bengalis, Durga Puja. Hilsa is ready in a wide range of methods from jhol (easy curry) to pulao and bhapa ilish or the steamed selection.
The cultural significance of the fish extends to literature, artwork and folklore– famend Bengali poets and writers, akin to Rabindranath Tagore and Jibanananda Das, have penned verses devoted to hilsa.
