As Assam prepares to celebrate Uruka, the traditional eve of Magh Bihu, fish markets across the state witnessed an extraordinary rush from late Monday night, reflecting the deep cultural importance of the festival. From Guwahati to remote district towns, people turned out in large numbers to buy fish for the customary Uruka feast, a night that marks togetherness, abundance and shared meals before the harvest festival. In Guwahati, fish markets remained crowded well past midnight. The Uzan Bazar fish market became one of the main centres of activity, with buyers lining up to purchase fish brought in from different parts of Assam and neighbouring states. Traders said more than 70 vehicles carrying fish arrived overnight, supplying varieties from Nagaon, Morigaon, Barpeta, Dhemaji, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Darrang and even West Bengal. Popular varieties such as Rohu, Chital, Borali, Ari and Bhokua were seen in large numbers, turning the market into a hive of activity.
Several unusually large fish drew public attention. At Uzan Bazar, Bhokua weighing around 15 kilograms, Chital weighing nearly 20 kilograms and Ari weighing about 17 kilograms were sold. In the Six Mile area, a 22-kilogram Borali and a 12-kilogram Ari were among the highlights. One buyer from Boko reportedly purchased a 15-kilogram Bhokua for Rs 10,000, reflecting the festive enthusiasm. Traders said fish weighing up to 30 kilograms were expected to be sold during the day. Ahead of the festival, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department had instructed all district commissioners to fix prices of meat, fish, eggs, milk and dairy products for Magh Bihu. Monitoring teams were deployed across districts to ensure that the fixed rates were followed. Officials were also directed to inspect fish consignments arriving from outside areas. District administrations and special task forces remained active in markets, while the public was urged to report any cases of overpricing.
According to earlier reports, local Rohu in Guwahati was priced around Rs 700 per kilogram, while Rohu from Bengal sold at about Rs 350 per kilogram. Local Bhokua was priced near Rs 700 per kilogram, while Bengal and Bihar varieties ranged between Rs 500 and Rs 600. Local Ari was sold at around Rs 1,200 per kilogram, while Bengal Ari ranged between Rs 600 and Rs 700. Chital prices varied between Rs 800 and Rs 1,000 per kilogram depending on size.