Bhubaneswar, Nov. 11: This year, Chhadakhai, the day that marks the end of the holy month of Kartik when most Odias keep off non-vegetarian food, has not led to any substantial rise in price of fish and meat.

As sales were down, fish merchants did not unload two truckloads of fish at the Unit-IV market today. There was hardly any change in the price of mutton, which continued to be sold at Rs 280-300 a kg.

Usually, Bhubaneswar consumes eight to nine truckloads of fish daily, most of which come from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Traders ordered 14 truckloads of fish anticipating that sales would rise on Chhadakhai. However, even after the morning’s purchases, two truckloads of fish remained unsold.

“This year, the market for the fish merchants and retailers during Chhadkhai is not too hot. Retailers may gain a little as they are demanding Rs 10-20 more per kg. The wholesale price is same as before,’’ said fish merchant Seikh Mustafa of Unit-IV Market. Retailers, on the other hand, are not too happy with the low turnout of buyers in the market today.

“We expected more buyers as the holy month of Kartik came to an end with Chhadakhai, but people are perhaps not interested much to consume animal products this season,’’ said a fish retailer.

Across the city only the rohu variety of fish was selling at Rs 120 per kg, but all other common varieties were selling at Rs 100 per kg. However, prawn was priced about Rs 50 more than the usual sale price, selling at Rs 400-600 per kg.

Hilsa fish on other hand, is selling at Rs 500 a kg for smaller varieties and Rs 800 for bigger ones at Unit-IV market. The price was higher than the usual as the production towards the end of season reduces every year. Hilsa is usually sold at Rs 400-700 at this time.

Rashmi Parida, a homemaker from Pokhariput, said: “People are probably not buying non-vegetarian food items as they are going to restaurants which have already advertised their Chhadakhai fare. The custom of eating out on special occasions is affecting sales in markets.”

“Chhadakhai is best observed on Wednesdays and Sundays. Apart from the Santoshi Maa puja, people from the salaried class prefer to have non-vegetarian food on Saturdays and Sundays,’’ said Bhimsen Sahu, a businessman and resident of Unit VI area.

Mutton seller and secretary of the local chapter of All-India Jamiatul Quresh Seikh Sarjan Qureshi said: “For two consecutive years, Chhadakhai celebration has been a low-key affair. Last year, we were agitating against a decision of the civic authorities while this time Santoshi Maa puja coincided with Chhadakhai. This seems to have affected sales of non-vegetarian items. Today, mutton was selling at Rs 280-300 a kg across the city. There may be a difference of Rs 10-20 at one or two places, but the overall rate remained stable.’’

Egg price was normal at Rs 45 per a dozen today. though generally it varies between Rs 40 and Rs 44 in winter. “During winter, sales touch a new high as the roadside vendors put up egg stalls. Also, the inclusion of eggs in the government-sponsored mid-day meal scheme is a major source of consumption. Therefore, the price of eggs nowadays is always on the higher side,’’ said Sahid Quadri, an egg seller at Unit-IV market.