Mouth-watering platter

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 16: Mutton, chicken and fish flew off the shelves as residents made a beeline for the market to make the most of the two-day window before the holy month of Kartik — when vegetarian fare is the norm — begins.

The rush at the shops selling these items was even more because Muslims were celebrating Id-ul Zuha today.

Suman Mishra, a resident of Bhimtangi, said long queues and quarrel among customers outside meat shops had almost forced him to return home without buying mutton.

“I visited the largest fish and meat market at Unit-IV, but people were blocking the road and gathering around the shops. After waiting for more than an hour, I managed to buy meat,” said Mishra, who spent Rs 400 for a kg of mutton today, which is Rs 40 more than the usual rate.

Chicken and fish shops too witnessed a similar kind of rush today as people in Odisha do not have non-vegetarian food during the sacred month of Kartik.

“We have to live without fish, chicken and mutton once Kartik starts on October 19. Besides, the last two days of this month falls on Thursday and Friday. While Thursday is a vegetarian day here, the full moon day falls on Friday and people also do not have non-veg food on such occasions,” said Shyama Sundar Das, a resident of Unit-I.

The mutton, chicken and fish vendors in the city enjoyed the rush at their shops. Though chicken and fish shops were crowded, more people were seen near outlets selling meat.

Mutton seller and secretary of the local chapter of All-India Jamiatul Quereshi, Sheikh Srajan Quereshi said that they were prepared for the rush as Kartik begins in two days while people would skip non-vegetarian fare for the next two days.

“We are happy that all our stocks were sold out today. All our shops did brisk business,” Quesreshi said.

The fish sellers also had a good day, as people who were not able to buy mutton or chicken headed to their shops.

“We knew that for the next two days we will have poor sale, so we brought maximum stocks and everything was sold by afternoon,” said fish merchant at Unit-IV, Sheikh Mustafa. Today rohu was sold at Rs 190 per kg, while mirgla cost more than Rs 200 a kg and bhakuda was selling at Rs 180 a kg in Unit- IV market. Prawn was being sold for more than Rs 400 a kg. With non-vegetarian items being sold at a high rate at Unit-IV market, the selling points at other places in the city witnessed equal rise in prices.