Local fish fair in the new water of the monsoon

Just as nature takes on a new form with the arrival of the monsoon, it also brings a different tide of joy to rural life. When the sky breaks and rain falls after a long drought and hot sun, the canals, rivers, streams and crop fields become teeming with new water. And a flock of local fish frolics in the flow of this new water. Some small local fish that have just been caught are arranged on a green leaf. This is a familiar and traditional scene in rural Bengal. As soon as the new water of the monsoon arrives, everyone, young and old, join in the fishing festival. These fish are caught from the fields or canal mouths with duba, chai, ora or ordinary mosquito nets.

In this new water, mainly puti, tengra, khalse, taki and the Baim or Chala visible in the picture are seen in abundance. The taste of these fresh local fish during the monsoon is naturally extraordinary and full of nutrients. In this era of mechanization and due to the filling of water bodies, this abundance of local fish is decreasing day by day. However, in these early days of the monsoon, a handful of local fish wrapped in kachu leaves still reminds us of our rural heritage, childhood and unspeakable joy.