Despite skyrocketing prices in the market, people line up outside shops to buy ‘pulsa’, a variety of fish that is available from July to August every year.
“We bought pulsa fish, which weighed around 1.5 kg, for Rs 14,000,” says Rangbabu, a fisherman. But for Pulasa, the most sought-after dish in restaurants during this season, people don’t mind spending more. “Despite the exorbitant price, we will buy it and send it to our children and other family members,” says Ratnamma, a woman from Kalidindi, a village in Eluru district.
Seasonal fish, also known as Hilsa and Ilisa (National fish of Bangladesh), is available mostly in West and East Godavari districts. Some fish lovers, who were eagerly waiting for Pulsa’s availability, have already given some amount to the fishermen, says Mr. Pawan of Gudivada.
“Making Pulsa dish is an art. Only people who specialize in making fish curry can tell the real taste of this dish. The amount invested, even if it is very high, is worth the taste,” says Mr. Pawan.
This dish also has nutritional value, they say. “Pulsa is high in protein, calcium, omega 3 fatty acids and carbohydrates.
Venkanna, a fisherman, says that he finds Pulsa variety of fish in Siddhantam, Doleswaram and Narasapuram. Some fishermen go fishing at different places in the Vasista, Vainetya and Gautami rivers. Those caught at Doleshwaram or Narasapuram in the Godavari have the best taste, say fishermen.
Due to heavy floods in the Godavari this year, fishermen continue to fish in the river and its tributaries.
APSRTC officials said that many customers were shipping Pulasa fish curry through daily cargo services to their friends and family members in Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Chennai, Nellore and other cities.