As dawn broke over Shariatpur's Madhya Para, Biswa Nath Das stood amid an early crowd, exchanging stories and having breakfast at a nearby stall. Like every year, he had come to buy a pair of hilsa, a ritual he believes brings blessings and well-being to his household.

He was one of thousands drawn to the traditional "Pahela Magh Jora Ilish" fair, held on the first day of the Bengali month of Magh, a celebration rooted as much in faith and memory as in trade.

From the early hours of the morning, the area came alive with people gathering not just to buy fish, but to take part in a tradition passed down through generations. Locals believe that bringing home a pair of hilsa on Pahela Magh ensures happiness, prosperity and good fortune, a belief strong enough to bring many to the fair before sunrise.

Vendors sat in neat rows with baskets arranged carefully, displaying pairs of hilsa alongside other varieties of fish. The price varied depending on size and weight. A pair weighing one kilogram or more sold for between Tk6,800 and Tk7,800, while a 500-gram pair cost Tk1,800 to Tk2,200. Smaller fish were available at lower prices.

Buyers moved from stall to stall, bargaining patiently. Some bought hilsa seeking family welfare, others to fulfil vows, while many simply wanted to honour a tradition they had grown up with.

Beyond fish, the fair offered much more. Sweet shops, toy sellers, colourful balloons and small roadside stalls added to the festive atmosphere. Children tugged at their parents' hands, elders chatted in groups, and the entire area took on the feel of a local festival rather than a market.

Shubhankar Nag, who visited with his young daughter and family, said the fair felt like a celebration. After buying fish, he planned to pick up toys for his child and sweets for the family before heading home.

For sellers like Dhiren Das, the fair carries deep personal meaning. Having sold fish there for 25 years, he said his father and grandfather had done the same. To him, the Pahela Magh fair is more than business, it is history and heritage, a yearly gathering that draws people from far and near.

Built on belief, culture and shared joy, the Pahela Magh hilsa fair has become an inseparable part of Shariatpur's identity, woven into the rhythm of life of its people.

Hilsa / Shariatpur / Fair