What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘eternal love’? If you’re a Bengali, the answer is pretty simple – It’s fish. Even though there are heated debates among the people of Kolkata with regard to‘Ilish’or ‘Chingri’as the choice of cuisine, perhaps the role of fish in our daily life is undeniable. Besides, we often refer to any chaotic situation as ‘MaccherBajar’. To add more, it’s not just a market where you can see Bengal’s eternal love, you would also find people selling fishes at random places in the city.

The fish markets not only represent the local culture and economy of Kolkata, but it is also a necessary stoppage for you in case you truly want to get the culinary vibes of our food culture. There are fish markets in every locality of the city. Among them, some of the biggest markets are in Lake Town, Gariahat, Dumdum, Shovabazaar. The markets usually open at around 5:30 to 6 A.M. in the morning, and closes at around 12 noon. Although there are some exceptions, like the Howrah Fish  Market, which remains open for 12 hours straight. When you enter the market, your brain gets awestruck. You are clueless about where to start.‘rui’ , ‘katla’ , ‘pabda’ , ‘tyangra’ ,’bhetki’ , ‘bhola’– the list is never-ending!

The obsession for fish is not just an inherent Bengali thing. Perhaps, even if you’re not a Bengali by birth, by living in the city for quite a while – you’ll definitely get attached to the fish markets and its crowd.