MARGAO
Where are the dry fish lovers gone?” dry fish vendors at the Purumetachem fest at Margao’s Old Market are wondering, as the sale of this fast-selling item has not been good.
Three days now, and fish vendors have no clue or idea why dry fish lovers have still not made a bee line to the Old Market tinto to purchase a variety of dry fish to make provision ahead of the ensuing monsoon season.
Blame it on the economy and inflation or otherwise, the usual hustle and bustle has gone missing at the dry fish sale section this time around. And, the dry fish vendors are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping against hope that business will improve in the next five days before curtains come down on the fair at the Old Market.
Fish vendors have stocked the much-sought after sting rays or kite fish, popularly known as ‘soles’ amongst the local populace, but there are few buyers for the dry fish at the moment. Considering the huge demand, a pair of “soles’ is priced at Rs 800, but the dry fish vendors are still looking for buyers for this variety which is used to make the local delicacy ‘para’.
Says fish vendor from Colva, Alice Fernadnes: “We haven’t made much business during the last three days. We have no clue why the business was not as usual this year. We only hope that things will improve for the vendors in the next five days.”
Alice and other local fish vendors pointed out that since ‘soles’ are the most sought-after dry fish at the Purumetachem fest every year, the vendors procure the fresh fish from the market and dry the same before it is brought for sale during the week-long fair. “Dry ‘soles’ may also come in from other states across the borders, but we local vendors dry them up for sale at the Purmetachem fair. The price of soles is on the higher side since the fresh fish, which comes from Kerala, doesn’t come cheap,” she added.
Dry shark locally known as ‘mori’ is another much sought-after fish at the fest. Many a fish vendor, which had gone to Sanguem for the local feast, to sell the dry fish, are likely to come back to the Old Market fair from Wednesday.
While many a dry shark was not visible, Alice said dry sharks will be on sale at the fair once the vendors return after the feast fair at Sanguem.
People not only from Salcete, but from neighbouring villages down South visit the week-long Purumetachem fest fair as it offers them an opportunity to make provision and stock food items, including dry fish, before monsoon sets in the state by mid-June.
