By Tripura24.in Bureau
AGARTALA | June 19, 2026: With the traditional festival of Jamai Sasthi just around the corner, fish markets across the capital city are gearing up to meet the soaring demand for the quintessential festival delicacy: Hilsa (Ilish). Traders at the prominent Battala fish market have assured that there will be an abundant supply of premium Hilsa sourced directly from Bangladesh’s renowned Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna river systems.
However, buyers will likely have to pinch their pockets this year. Wholesale and retail merchants at Battala indicated that import volumes have been slightly lower than usual in the build-up to the festival, which is driving up procurement costs and resulting in premium price tags.
Fresh Catches Command Premium Rates
According to retail vendors, the highly sought-after fresh or “Kacha” (non-cold storage) catches are arriving in limited batches and commanding the highest rates due to their superior taste and quality.
Market experts and traders have outlined the structured price chart for the festive weekend:
- Premium Fresh Hilsa (1.2 kg to 1.3 kg): Priced at ₹2,200 per kilogram.
- Super-Size Fresh Hilsa (Above 1.5 kg): Retail rates are fixed at ₹2,400 per kilogram.
- Cold Storage Hilsa (Above 1 kg): Sourced from storage facilities, these are retailing at a discounted rate of ₹1,500 per kilogram.
- Standard Cold Storage Hilsa (Below 1 kg): Smaller variants are fluctuating between ₹1,000 and ₹1,200 per kilogram depending on size.
